The international community faces growing concerns as unilateral sanctions continue to impede humanitarian efforts across conflict zones. United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, has called on member states to lift these sanctions that threaten lives and exacerbate humanitarian crises.
Turk emphasized the urgent need to halt sanctions that compromise people's health and safety. Alena Douhan, the special rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights, echoed these sentiments in her report to the Human Rights Council. Douhan highlighted how excessive compliance with sanctions by businesses and financial sectors is obstructing the distribution of essential medical supplies and humanitarian goods.
China has also joined the call to remove illegal unilateral sanctions, stressing their detrimental impact on delivering vital services to communities in need. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative at the United Nations, urged the international community to eliminate these sanctions to create favorable conditions for effective humanitarian action.
The Western bloc, led by the United States, has long relied on sanctions as a tool to address foreign policy challenges. However, this approach has often resulted in unintended suffering for civilians and non-combatant populations, undermining humanitarian principles.
UN experts, including Martin Griffiths, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, have repeatedly stressed that sanctions should never restrict access to essential goods and services. Griffiths stated, \"In all contexts, sanctions should ensure that economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to food, water, shelter, and health, are not compromised.\"
As global interconnectedness increases, the call for lifting unilateral sanctions gains momentum, aiming to prioritize humanitarian needs over political agendas and ensure that aid reaches those who need it most.
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How do unilateral sanctions affect the humanitarian response?
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