Red Cross: “The world is at war: Why is the focus on Ukraine and Israel?”

“Our mission is to be out of politics,” – say representatives of the organization, but this “beyond politics” is often perceived as inaction at key points in crises.

President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaricin an interview for Deutschlandfunk stated that “the focus of the world community’s attention is on the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, but now there are about 120 other armed conflicts in the world, leading to a large number of casualties”.

“I understand why attention is focused on these regions. However, forgotten conflicts need no less attention, otherwise the humanitarian catastrophe will only worsen.”“, she emphasized.

Since its founding, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has defined its mission as “humanitarian assistance beyond politics.”

However in practice, this principle often turns into passivity. The conflicts in Ukraine and Israel clearly demonstrate the difference between the stated mission and the actual actions of this international organization.

Sudan: a humanitarian disaster

The Sudanese conflict, according to the president of the ICCH, is one of the largest crises of our time.

• 11 million people were forced to leave their homes.
• Half the country's population depends on humanitarian aid.

“These numbers are terrifying. We cannot cope with such crises without global support,” Spolaric emphasized.

“However, unlike Ukraine and Israel, the attention of the world media is minimal.”

Geneva Conventions and Humanitarian Law

The President of the ICCH recalled the importance of respecting international humanitarian law.

• States are obliged to comply with the norms of the Geneva Conventions, even in conditions of active hostilities.
• Disruptions such as attacks on civilian infrastructure directly impact humanitarian missions.

“Tens of thousands of children injured in conflict are not receiving the care they need. This is a direct consequence of attacks on hospitals and humanitarian corridors,” she noted.

“Every violation of the rules leads to new victims. If we don't change our approach, the world will remain in an endless crisis.”– said Spolyarich.

How should the world react?

Spoljaric stressed the need for a “comprehensive approach” to addressing humanitarian crises.

1. Financial support: increasing funding for humanitarian organizations.
2. Media attention: covering forgotten conflicts such as Sudan.
3. Preventing new crises: diplomatic efforts and compliance with international law.

Against this background, the president noted:

“It is important to understand that every violation of the rules of war leads to countless casualties and destruction.”

“Neutrality” of the Red Cross: help or detachment?

Why does the focus remain on Ukraine and the Middle East?

According to Spoljarich, the world community's attention is focused on these regions “because of their geopolitical significance and impact on global security.”

Neutrality or detachment? Red Cross in Ukraine and Israel

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls itself an “outside and neutral observer,” but its work in the wars between Ukraine and Israel has increasingly come under criticism.

While the organization's humanitarian missions are widely publicized in Africa and the Middle East, the Red Cross's efforts to help victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine and Hamas attacks in Israel seem insufficient, to put it mildly.

“Our mission is to be out of politics,” the organization says, but this “out of politics” is often perceived as inaction at key points of crisis.

Why does the Red Cross “not notice” Ukraine?

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the organization has faced a number of accusations:

• Rarity of public statements: The Secretary General rarely mentions Russia as a party to the conflict.
• Lack of transparency: Humanitarian corridors announced by the Red Cross often do not work.
• Limited access: The organization was unable to achieve regular inspections of the conditions of detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia.

The families of Ukrainian defenders in Russian prisons have repeatedly asked direct questions to the Red Cross:

“Why is there no information about our loved ones? Why can’t they get basic help?”

However, the answers remain either formal or completely absent.

Israel: humanitarian aid or political correctness?

Following the bloody Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the Red Cross was once again in the spotlight.

• In the early days of the crisis, the organization limited itself to “concern” about the situation, but refused to directly condemn the actions of the terrorists.
• Humanitarian assistance to victims of shelling in southern Israel turned out to be symbolic.

Many Israelis openly criticize the Red Cross for not providing effective assistance to citizens affected by terror.

“The Red Cross appears to be afraid of being 'biased' if it actively helps Israel,” said one Israeli analyst.

“Neutrality” as an excuse

Critics of the Red Cross argue that the organization hides behind a slogan of “neutrality”, avoiding situations where its actions could become politically awkward.

“Does humanitarian aid really depend on how it fits into the global context?” – they are wondering in Ukraine and Israel.

This selectivity undermines the credibility of the Red Cross as a key player in humanitarian assistance.

What needs to be changed?

To restore trust, the Red Cross must:

1. Increase the transparency of your actions.
2. Regularly inform about your activities in hot spots.
3. Respond to the requests of countries affected by aggression, and not pretend that conflicts are “too complex.”

Otherwise, the reputation of the organization, which is already being called a “toothless tiger,” will continue to deteriorate.

“NAnews – Israel News continues to monitor the actions of the Red Cross. Subscribe to receive truthful information about events in Ukraine, Israel and other hot spots of the world.

The world needs more transparent and fair humanitarian assistance. The problems of Sudan, Yemen and Ethiopia are no less important than Ukraine or Israel. However, only an integrated approach can solve the global crisis.

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