United Nations: A civilian was killed every quarter of an hour last year, and protecting civilians in conflicts is not an act of charity

Edem and Surno, Director of the Crisis Response Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), warned that explosive weapons continue to tear apart towns and cities, destroying not only lives, but also the systems that keep them alive, such as electricity and water networks, schools, and hospitals.

Wesorno’s statements came in her briefing on Wednesday before an open Security Council debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

The UN official pointed out that health care has been attacked, as more than 1,350 attacks targeting medical care have been recorded in 18 conflicts.

She also said that “The severity of conflict-induced hunger has worsened.”147 million people faced severe food insecurity in 2025.

added: “Two cases of famine have been confirmed, not due to the lack of food, but rather due to the methods followed by the parties to the conflict in managing hostilities, their use of siege tactics, and their prevention of the arrival of humanitarian aid.”.

She pointed out that sexual violence continues “a widespread phenomenon”The United Nations reported more than 9,300 cases last year, the vast majority of which were women and girls.

She said: “Children are also being kidnapped and recruited to fight. A large number of them are injured and killed, as a direct result of the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas.”.

It also warned that artificial intelligence and drones are accelerating the pace and scope of violence, as the use of drones has increased by 4,000% between 2020 and 2024 across various conflicts.

War does not respect borders

The official at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that none of these things are inevitable. “These patterns are the product of choices.”including parties to the conflict choosing to ignore their obligations to protect civilians, and often even targeting them.

added: “My message to this Council and to the member states of the United Nations is simple: there is another path. Other options are possible. These choices must be made.”.

She warned that those who think that the war will never affect them, their families, or their people, “They live in a dangerous illusion. War does not respect borders and does not recognize privileges.”.

She stressed that protecting civilians requires more than just expressing concern. “It requires real commitment translated into concrete action.”.

She said: “Protecting civilians in armed conflicts is not an act of charity; it is the minimum required by humanity and civilization. It is an essential pillar of peace and security.”.

She added that the responsibility to protect civilians, “It cannot be delegated, it cannot be postponed, it cannot be diluted, it is the choice we must make now.”.

Violations happen in the shadows

President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spolijaric Egger, said in her speech before the Council: “We can no longer pretend that what we are seeing across war zones is consistent with the law.”.

She continued, saying: “When leaders direct their armies to act unchecked, describe their enemies as less than human, and when they threaten entire peoples, they not only incite war crimes, but they also threaten to undermine the very foundations of morality – the very essence of what it means to be human.”.

She also referred to what she described as “Violations happen in the shadows” Inside prison cells, detention centers, and interrogation rooms, away from the eyes of public scrutiny.

She said: “Given the huge power imbalance between a person in a cell and those who hold the keys, moral boundaries can easily collapse in many conflicts.”.

Protecting civilians promotes moral superiority

The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross pointed out that intentional cruelty does not happen by chance, and that there is no such thing as torture or accidental abuse, adding that this “The product of a system designed to justify actions resulting from disregard for the law.”.

She spoke about a visit she made last week to Al-Karkh Central Prison in Baghdad, which now houses thousands of people of about 17 nationalities who were recently transferred from northeastern Syria.

She pointed out that among these are children who were caught in a war they did not choose and are now facing a life that may be behind bars, adding that “This situation exemplifies what can happen when the international community considers entire categories of people outside the scope of the law, and lacks the political and moral courage to confront this reality.”.

At the conclusion of her speech, she stressed that: “Protecting civilians and dealing with the opponent within the framework of the law does not make you weaker, but rather it enhances your moral superiority, both internally and externally.”.

She said it “We must not surrender to a political culture that erases the lessons learned from world wars and from the rubble of mass destruction and genocide.”.