Pope Francis urged governments around the world on Sunday to protect civilians caught in armed conflicts and spare places of humanitarian importance like hospitals and schools.
“Let’s not forget that war and terrorism are always a great defeat for the whole of humanity,” the Pope said in his weekly Angelus blessing, calling on states to safeguard the life and dignity of the victims of fighting.
He was speaking on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Convention, which set out standards of international law for humanitarian treatment in war, Reuters reported.
“Everybody is bound to observe the rules imposed by international humanitarian law, protecting defenseless populations and civilian infrastructure, especially hospitals, schools, places of worship, refugee camps,” Pope Francis added.
His appeal came as Syrian regime forces seized more ground in northwestern Syria, in fresh violence which the United Nations has said threatens the lives of millions and could drive hundreds of thousands more civilians from their homes.
Panos Moumtzis, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, said last week Syrian military air strikes had targeted hospitals, schools, water points, markets, bakeries and other civilian infrastructure.
