ARMED CONFLICTS

ARMED CONFLICT

International humanitarian law distinguishes two

types of armed conflicts, namely:

International Armed Conflicts

Non-International Armed Conflicts
 International Armed Conflicts, when there is opposing
two or more States.

Non-International Armed Conflicts, between

governmental forces and non-governmental armed
groups, or between such groups only.
 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Health care Prevention, diagnosis, treatment or control of diseases,
injuries or disabilities, as well as measures ensuring the health of
mothers and young children.

The term also encompasses activities that ensure, or provide support

for, access for the wounded and sick to these health-care services;
that is, activities such as searching for, collecting or transporting the
wounded and sick, or the administration of health-care facilities
 HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL
INCLUDES:
1. People with professional health-care qualifications, e.g. doctors, nurses,
paramedics, physiotherapists, pharmacists;
2. People working in hospitals, clinics and first-aid posts, ambulance
drivers, administrators of hospitals,
3. Staff and volunteers of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement involved in delivering health care;
4. Medical personnel of armed forces;
5. Personnel of health-oriented international and non-governmental
organizations;
6. First-aiders
 PREVENTIVE MEASURES: PRIOR
3 Important Factors:
The availability of infrastructure and materials;
The application by the health-care worker of professional knowledge and
expertise within arelationship of trust.
Ensure that your practices are compatible with humanitarian law, human
rights law and health-care ethics;
 PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
DURING
Treat the wounded and sick humanely.
Not abandon the wounded and sick.
Not take part in any act of hostility if you want to be
protected as medical personnel under humanitarian law.
Not pose an immediate threat to the lives or the physical
integrity of others if you want to be protected from the
use of force under human rights law.
 Remind authorities of their obligation to search for and collect the
wounded and sick and to ensure their access to health care without
discrimination on grounds other than medical condition.
Advocate and provide effective and impartial care for the wounded
and sick without any adverse distinction.
Not take undue risks while discharging your duties.
Respect every wounded or sick persons wishes, confidence and
dignity.
 AFTER
There must be an accurate record of what the wounded or sick
persons principal problem is, what has been done and by whom,
and what is planned.
Treat the dying or dead person and any relatives humanely and
with respect.
Ensure that dying or dead people, or human remains, are handled
in a culturally sensitive manner
Remind authorities that it is their responsibility to ensure proper
disposal of dead bodies and human remains
 RESPONSIBILITIES OF
RESPONDERS
Give careful consideration to any dual loyalties that you may be bound by
and discuss them with colleagues and anyone in authority;
Listen to and respect the opinions of colleagues;
Reflect on and try to improve the standards of care appropriate to the
situation;
Report the unethical behaviour of colleagues to your superiors;
Be identifiable as a health-care provider, and by means of a distinctive
emblem if authorized to wear one
 Keep adequate health-care records;
Provide support for restoring and maintaining the provision of
civilian health care disrupted by armedconflicts or other
emergencies;
Report to your commander or to the relevant authorities if health-
care needs are not being met;
Inform authorities or others responsible about any security
incident.