Representative for 80 delegations urges respect for international humanitarian law and unhindered aid

A representative speaking on behalf of 80 delegations told an open United Nations debate that at least 36,000 civilians were killed in 14 armed conflicts in 2024 and urged all parties to armed conflict to respect international humanitarian law and allow unhindered humanitarian access.

The speaker said the Gaza situation “faces the worst humanitarian crisis since the commencement of hostilities following the attacks of 10/07/2023,” and warned of widespread civilian suffering across multiple conflicts. “The protection of civilians is not optional. It is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law and a moral imperative,” the representative said.

Why this matters: the statement was delivered during Protection of Civilians Week as part of an open UN debate that the speaker said should refocus attention on civilians caught in conflict. The representative cited multiple indicators of rising civilian harm, including deaths, mass displacement and attacks on aid workers.

Details and claims cited by the representative included that the United Nations recorded “at least 36000 civilian deaths in 14 armed conflicts in 2024,” that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas “caused tens of thousands of casualties,” and that “landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to endanger civilians.” The statement listed countries reporting widespread civilian suffering: Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and Ukraine.

The speaker highlighted humanitarian-worker casualties and access constraints, saying that “hundreds of aid workers” had been killed since the Gaza conflict began and that last year was “the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel when more than 360 humanitarians were killed in 20 countries.” The representative called for parties to conflict to “allow and facilitate as required by international humanitarian law, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in need.”

The representative also urged investigations and accountability, saying that “an alleged violation of international humanitarian law and alleged human rights violations and abuses in armed conflict must systematically be met with credible investigations, and perpetrators must be held accountable.” The statement said impunity “is a license for repetition.”

No formal decision or vote was recorded in the transcript. The remarks were an appeal to states and parties to conflict rather than a report of any new resolution or operational measure. The representative commended humanitarian actors and journalists and warned against the instrumentalization of aid for political or military objectives.

The speaker concluded by urging renewed concrete steps toward protection and accountability: “Let us recommit not only to words, but to concrete steps towards protection, towards accountability.”