Chinese envoy calls for protecting medical personnel in conflicts

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday called for more protection to medical personnel and facilities in Syrian conflicts after recent attacks on hospitals.

Stressing that medical personnel in violent conflict put their own life at risk to care for the wounded and the sick, Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, noted that protecting medical personnel and facilities in violent conflict is an inescapable responsibility of states and parties in conflicts.

Acts of violence, attacks and threats against medical personal should be investigated and punished by states according to law, said Liu after the Security Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday to condemn such attacks.

Moreover, the envoy called on the Security Council to actively carry out preventive diplomacy and political good offices with an aim to settling differences among parties through peaceful means, including dialogues and negotiations.

The unanimously adopted resolution by the 15-nation council came after a series of reported attacks targeted hospitals in Syria.

Earlier on Tuesday, dozens of civilians were killed and wounded when rebel rocket fire targeted a hospital in Syria's battered city of Aleppo. Last week, Al Quds field hospital, situated in a rebel-held neighborhood in Aleppo, was hit by a missile from a fighter jet.

The resolution strongly urges all parties to armed conflict to develop effective measures to prevent acts of violence against personnel engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospital and other medical facilities. Enditem