The sad reality of today’s armed conflicts is that too often, civilians are directly attacked and killed, houses and livelihoods are destroyed, people suffer from starvation and lack of health care, and children are left without education and recruited into fighting forces.
Four reasons for ICRC engagement with armed groupsĮngagement with armed groups is, first and foremost, a precondition for the ICRC’s safe access to populations and persons affected by a non-international armed conflict (NIAC) or other situations of violence. In light of the devastation and suffering caused by armed conflicts and other situations of violence, and exacerbated by behaviour contrary to international humanitarian law (IHL) and other bodies of law, our engagement with armed groups is a matter of humanitarian necessity. This includes providing life-saving assistance to persons living in areas controlled by armed groups, supporting healthcare facilities that treat the sick and wounded in such areas, or strengthening groups’ knowledge of and respect for the applicable legal framework. Our main reason for this is quite straightforward: to ensure humanitarian assistance and protection for persons affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence, in accordance with our mandate. Humanitarian engagement with armed groups –notably with the approximately 100 non-State armed groups that can be legally classified as parties to non-international armed conflicts – has long been a defining feature of the ICRC’s work.
ICRC engagement with non-State armed groups: why and how.
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