Jolo, Sulu Provincial Capitol |
Manila (Jan. 28, 2019-ICRC) – The International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) deplores the loss of life and injuries to
civilians that resulted from yesterday’s twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu
province, southern Philippines.
According
to reports obtained from health officials in Sulu and Zamboanga, 20 people were
killed while 111 were hurt in Sunday’s two successive blasts at the Cathedral
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the provincial capital of Jolo.
“We are
deeply concerned by the number of civilians being injured or killed as a result
of deliberate attacks. We deplore any violence committed against civilians,”
said Martin Thalmann, head of the ICRC delegation in the Philippines. “We
appeal to all parties to the conflict to meet their obligations under
international humanitarian law (IHL) and thus ensure that civilians and
civilian objects are spared and protected at all times. IHL prohibits direct
attacks against civilians and civilian objects in all circumstances,” he said.
In the
wake of the attack, the ICRC team in Zamboanga City coordinated with its
national partner, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), specifically its Sulu chapter
that quickly responded to the incident; and with public and military hospitals
where the wounded were taken. Two of these hospitals recently received donations
of medicines and medical supplies from the ICRC.
Today,
an ICRC health team visited a hospital in Zamboanga City to assess the needs of
18 severely wounded patients, and of patients who are being transported to
Zamboanga, for possible support of their individual treatment.
The
ICRC supports seven hospitals in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao with
medicines and medical supplies. Last year, 242 responders in Mindanao,
including nurses from Sulu, were trained to provide quality emergency medical care
to wounded people.
It also
supports capacity-building of PRC chapters in Sulu and Basilan to respond to
emergencies and provides support for displaced civilians.
The
ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose
exclusive humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims
of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with
assistance, regardless of their political affiliation.
The
ICRC seeks to speak to all sides involved in a conflict to secure access for
humanitarian assistance and to ensure respect for the rules of armed conflict.
(By Allison Lopez-ICRC)
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