ICRC: We are currently classifying the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has classified the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War, according to its President Mirjana Spoljaric. She warns of a dangerous erosion of the rules established to protect civilians amid proliferating conflicts, technological transformations, and the retreat of diplomacy.

Erosion of International Law

Spoljaric emphasizes that while war may be a human condition, brutality is not. She observes that international humanitarian law is being increasingly permissively interpreted, with civilian infrastructure being attacked and populations displaced as human suffering becomes an instrument of military strategy.

Technological Concerns

The proliferation of drones and artificial intelligence adds another troubling dimension to modern conflicts. Technologies once presented as instruments of greater military precision have not delivered promised protections for civilians, while autonomous weapons targeting humans raise urgent legal and ethical questions.

Call for Action

Spoljaric's deepest concern extends beyond the battlefield as conflicts increasingly cross borders and humanitarian needs overwhelm resources. She stresses that humanitarian assistance cannot substitute for war prevention, and civilian protection cannot depend on goodwill alone.