On the 27th of May, parliamentarians from 5 different countries participated in the European Inter-parliamentarian Conference on the future political declaration to protect civilians from the use of Explosive Weapons in populated areas (EWIPA).
As bombing continues to destroy the lives of thousands of civilians in Syria, Yemen and more recently in the Gaza Strip and Israel, members of at least five national parliaments of European states are taking part in a conference organised by elected representatives in France and Germany.
Ahead of the Protection of Civilians (POC) Week, HI and 25 NGOs call for the comprehensive protection of civilians from conflict, during conflict, and in the devastating and often long aftermath of conflict.
The use of heavy explosive weapons in the Gaza strip and Israel is killing and injuring civilians and must stop.
On 21 April the National Defense Commission of the Belgian Federal Parliament adopted a historical resolution on the protection of civilians from bombing and shelling in populated areas.
On 21 April the National Defense Commission of the Belgian Federal Parliament will have the one-time opportunity to make history and adopt the first resolution on the protection of civilians from bombing and shelling in populated areas.
This Sunday, we will celebrate the International Day for Mine Awareness. On this day, HI is alarmed by an exceptionally high and complex level of contamination, particularly explosive remnants of war (ERW) and improvised mines following current and recent conflicts.
The 6-year long war in Yemen war has caused the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. The level of destruction of infrastructure by massive bombing and shelling in populated areas, as well as the contamination by explosive devices are enormous challenges to overcome.
10 years after the start of the conflict in Syria, the humanitarian crisis is only getting worse. Humanitarian needs are immense while access to people in need remains a major challenge.