Red Cross volunteer killed in Armenian missile attack on Barda
By Vafa Ismayilova
A volunteer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) is among the 21 civilians killed in Armenia's missile attack on Azerbaijan's Barda city on October 28.
“Humanitarians not a target. Father and a local team member, volunteer of IFRC was killed while delivering humanitarian support in Barda city of Azerbaijan as a result of Armenia’s deadly shelling of city with cluster rockets,” Presidential Aide Hikmat Hajiyev wrote in his Twitter account following the attack.
President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Francesco Rocca made a statement in connection to the death of a volunteer as result of Armenian shelling.
“Shocked and appalled by the killing of one of Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society volunteer in Barda, Azerbaijan, while he was delivering aid to civilians. Humanitarian are not a target. My thoughts and condolences to his beloved,” he said.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also issued a statement on its volunteer's killing.
"Alongside thousands of civilians, the ICRC witnessed intense shelling in urban areas of the front line today, leading to death, destruction, injuries, and desolation. This is unacceptable. Tragically, a volunteer from the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society, a father of two, was killed in the shelling. Two other volunteers were injured. With the Red Cross Red Crescent family, we offer our most heartfelt condolences to the family of the volunteer and to the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society,” the ICRC’s statement reads.
“Since the onset of the escalation at the end of September, we have urged to take all feasible measures to protect and spare civilians and civilian infrastructures like hospitals, schools, markets, and cultural property. These are not voluntary gestures. These are obligations under international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
“Civilian lives are being lost at an alarming rate and people are also suffering life-changing injuries. Significant damage has also been inflicted on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities. The appalling scenes that we are seeing cannot continue,” the statement said.
Five more civilians were killed in another Armenian attack on Barda on October 27.
Armenia has launhced missile attacks tartgeting civilian settlements in Azerbaijan shortly after it resumed attacks near the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region on September 27.
Ninety-one civilians have been killed in Armenia's indiscriminate missile attacks on Azerbaijan so far.