1 November 2016
Spokespeople for the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights: Ravina Shamdasani
Location:
Geneva
Subject: (1)
Iraq
(2)
Syria
(3)
Saudi Arabia / Yemen
(1) Iraq
We have reports that in the early hours of yesterday
morning, around 1h00, ISIL brought dozens of long trucks and mini-buses to
Hamam al-Alil City, south of Mosul, in an attempt to forcibly transfer some
25,000 civilians towards locations in and around Mosul. We understand that most
of the trucks were prevented from proceeding towards Mosul due to coalition
flights patrolling the area, and the trucks were forced to return to Hamam
Al-Alil. However some buses did reach Abusaif, 15 kilometres north of Hamam Al-Alil
City. We have grave concerns for the safety of these and the tens of thousands
of other civilians who have reportedly been forcibly relocated by ISIL in the
past two weeks.
Using civilians as human shields is a war crime. Under
article 8(2)(c) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, taking
of hostages in a non-international armed conflict is a war crime, and under
Article 8(2)(e)(viii), ordering the displacement of civilians for reasons not
connected with their security or imperative military reasons is also a war
crime.
We urge parties to the conflict to ensure that
international law is strictly observed, in particular the principles of
distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack. All feasible precautions
must be taken to avoid and minimise the loss of civilian life and injury to
civilians.
We also have further reports of mass killings by ISIL. On
Saturday, 40 former Iraqi Security Force soldiers were killed and their bodies
thrown in the Tigris River. They were reportedly among the civilians who had
been abducted earlier from al-Shura sub-district of Mosul and from villages
surrounding Hamam al-Alil. There are also reports that ISIL has been
threatening relatives of people they suspect are supporting the Iraqi Security
Forces.
(2) Syria
Over the course of the weekend, there were reports of
intensified shelling by armed opposition groups of civilian-populated areas in
Government-controlled western Aleppo. The areas hit by mortars, rockets and
other improvised explosive devices (IEDS) included the neighbourhoods of Salah
al-Din, al-Shahbaa, al-Zahraa and al-Hamadaniya.
More than 30 civilians, including at least 10 children,
were reportedly killed and dozens of others injured as a result of the attacks
on 29 and 30 October on western Aleppo. We have also received unconfirmed
reports of families fleeing the hostilities towards opposition-held areas of
the city.
Such high numbers of civilian casualties suggest that
armed opposition groups are failing to adhere to the fundamental prohibition
under international humanitarian law on the launching of indiscriminate
attacks, and the principles of precaution and proportionality. The reported use
of ground-based missiles along with the use of armoured vehicles loaded with
explosives used in an area containing more than one million civilian
inhabitants is completely unacceptable and may constitute war crimes.
Shelling of opposition-held eastern Aleppo by Government
forces and their allies is also reported to be continuing. Among the
neighbourhoods particularly affected are al-Ferdous, Sayf al-Dawla, al-Qaterji
and al-Mashhad. At least 12 civilians including two children were reportedly
killed as a result of the attacks over Saturday and Sunday. Dozens of civilians
were also injured.
While Russian Ministry of Defence representatives are
reported to have stated that Syrian and Russian air forces are observing a
moratorium on flights closer than 10 kilometres around Aleppo since the launch
of the unilateral ceasefire on 18 October, we did receive some reports of
airstrikes hitting opposition-controlled eastern Aleppo on 22 and 23 October.
While there have not been airstrikes since that time, we remain concerned about
250,000 civilians at risk in this area should they resume.
All parties in Aleppo are conducting hostilities which
are resulting in large numbers of civilian casualties, and creating an
atmosphere of terror for those who continue to live in the city. Strikes
against hospitals, schools, marketplaces, water facilities and bakeries are now
commonplace, and may amount to war crimes.
(3) Saudi Arabia / Yemen
We condemn the firing of a ballistic missile deep into
Saudi Arabia by the Houthis and their allies last week. The launching of any
weapon indiscriminately into an area filled with civilians is forbidden under
international humanitarian law. We urge all parties to the conflict to exercise
restraint and to ensure full respect for international human rights and
international humanitarian law.
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact
Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Ravina Shamdasani
(+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org ) or Liz Throssell ( +41 22 917 9466/ ethrossell@ohchr.org )
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