文民たる住民の生存に不可欠な物の保護に関する安保理公開VTCにおける石兼公博大使ステートメント
令和3年4月27日
Mr. President,
I would like to begin by thanking Viet Nam for convening this important meeting. I would also like to thank all the briefers including the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross for their briefings.
As a staunch supporter of the concept of human security, Japan attaches great importance to the theme of today’s debate: protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. A wide range of objects and services are indispensable, not limited to those listed in Article 54 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions - foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works. Civilian population cannot survive without, for example, medical facilities, wastewater management and sanitary systems, and energy systems, as well.
Mr. President,
The COVID-19 pandemic is striking hardest the weakest segments of society including the people affected by armed conflict, and has brought to light the importance of maintaining essential medical service for people fighting against the virus under already fragile conflict situations. Relevant medical facilities and access to medical service must be protected from attacks and destructions.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Security Council Resolution 2286 on healthcare in armed conflict, to which Japan contributed as a co-penholder in 2016. Despite this resolution and the subsequent Resolution 2417 on conflict and hunger passed in 2018, it is regrettable that we continue to witness repeated attacks against medical and humanitarian personnel and their facilities in conflict zones. Most recently in February this year, the Council passed Resolution 2565 and urged all parties to protect critical infrastructure for the delivery of humanitarian aid for essential services concerning vaccinations and related medical care. The Security Council must use its powers to the fullest extent to facilitate the implementation of these resolutions.
In December 2019, Dr. NAKAMURA Tetsu, representative of a Japanese humanitarian NGO, was killed in a terrorist attack along with his Afghan colleagues in the eastern part of Afghanistan, when he was travelling in a car to monitor his irrigation project. Dr. Nakamura devoted himself for decades to the healthcare service and agricultural development for the Afghan people. He strongly believed that peace, stability and reconstruction of the country cannot be achieved without building solid basis for food and water supply. Japan strongly condemns such a heinous attack against the aid worker, whose sole motive was to bring livelihood to the civilians.
Japan is committed to actively contributing to the protection of civilians and objects indispensable to their survival. In March, Japan made a contribution of over USD 30 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its emergency and rehabilitation activities under the COVID-19 pandemic to provide water services and improved access to medical care to the victims of armed conflict, for example, in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia. Also in March, Japan contributed approximately USD 4.5 million to UNICEF’s operations in Syria, including the reconstruction of water and sewage systems to improve access to safe water and sanitation for the population of Eastern Ghouta. It also supports health clinics for women and children by providing medical equipment.
Japan is determined to continue making every effort to the protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population in armed conflict. We will continue to work closely with other Member States, the United Nations system, international humanitarian organizations and civil society organizations to contribute in this endeavor.
Thank you.
I would like to begin by thanking Viet Nam for convening this important meeting. I would also like to thank all the briefers including the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross for their briefings.
As a staunch supporter of the concept of human security, Japan attaches great importance to the theme of today’s debate: protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. A wide range of objects and services are indispensable, not limited to those listed in Article 54 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions - foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works. Civilian population cannot survive without, for example, medical facilities, wastewater management and sanitary systems, and energy systems, as well.
Mr. President,
The COVID-19 pandemic is striking hardest the weakest segments of society including the people affected by armed conflict, and has brought to light the importance of maintaining essential medical service for people fighting against the virus under already fragile conflict situations. Relevant medical facilities and access to medical service must be protected from attacks and destructions.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Security Council Resolution 2286 on healthcare in armed conflict, to which Japan contributed as a co-penholder in 2016. Despite this resolution and the subsequent Resolution 2417 on conflict and hunger passed in 2018, it is regrettable that we continue to witness repeated attacks against medical and humanitarian personnel and their facilities in conflict zones. Most recently in February this year, the Council passed Resolution 2565 and urged all parties to protect critical infrastructure for the delivery of humanitarian aid for essential services concerning vaccinations and related medical care. The Security Council must use its powers to the fullest extent to facilitate the implementation of these resolutions.
In December 2019, Dr. NAKAMURA Tetsu, representative of a Japanese humanitarian NGO, was killed in a terrorist attack along with his Afghan colleagues in the eastern part of Afghanistan, when he was travelling in a car to monitor his irrigation project. Dr. Nakamura devoted himself for decades to the healthcare service and agricultural development for the Afghan people. He strongly believed that peace, stability and reconstruction of the country cannot be achieved without building solid basis for food and water supply. Japan strongly condemns such a heinous attack against the aid worker, whose sole motive was to bring livelihood to the civilians.
Japan is committed to actively contributing to the protection of civilians and objects indispensable to their survival. In March, Japan made a contribution of over USD 30 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its emergency and rehabilitation activities under the COVID-19 pandemic to provide water services and improved access to medical care to the victims of armed conflict, for example, in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia. Also in March, Japan contributed approximately USD 4.5 million to UNICEF’s operations in Syria, including the reconstruction of water and sewage systems to improve access to safe water and sanitation for the population of Eastern Ghouta. It also supports health clinics for women and children by providing medical equipment.
Japan is determined to continue making every effort to the protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population in armed conflict. We will continue to work closely with other Member States, the United Nations system, international humanitarian organizations and civil society organizations to contribute in this endeavor.
Thank you.