Sign In
Learn bits
World Affairs
Mahesh

07/03/22 16:04 PM IST

Humanitarian corridors

In News
  • The United Nations considers humanitarian corridors to be one of several possible forms of a temporary pause of armed conflict.
Details 
  • They are demilitarized zones, in a specific area and for a specific time — and both sides of an armed conflict agree to them.
  • Via these corridors, either food and medical aid can be brought to areas of conflict, or civilians can be evacuated.
  • The corridors are necessary when cities are under siege and the population is cut off from basic food supplies, electricity and water.
  • In cases where a humanitarian catastrophe unfolds because the international law of war is being violated — for example through large-scale bombing of civilian targets — humanitarian corridors can provide crucial relief.
  • In most cases, humanitarian corridors are negotiated by the United Nations.
  • Sometimes they’re also set up by local groups. Since all sides need to agree to set up the corridors, there is a risk of military or political abuse.
  • For example, the corridors can be used to smuggle weapons and fuel into besieged cities.
  • On the other hand, they can also be used by UN observers, NGOs and journalists to gain access to contested areas where war crimes are being committed.
  • Access to humanitarian corridors is determined by the parties to the conflict.
  • It’s usually limited to neutral actors, the UN or aid organizations such as the Red Cross.
  • They also determine the length of time, the area and which means of transport — trucks, buses or planes — are allowed to use the corridor.
  • In rare cases, humanitarian corridors are only organized by one of the parties to the conflict.
  • This happened with the American airlift after the Berlin blockade by the Soviet Union in 1948-1949.

About Corridors 
  • Humanitarian corridors have been put in place since the mid-20th century.
  • For example, during the so-called Kindertransport from 1938 to 1939, Jewish children were evacuated to the United Kingdom from areas under Nazi control.
  • Humanitarian corridors were also created during the 1992-1995 siege of Sarajevo, Bosnia and the 2018 evacuation of Ghouta, Syria.

Source- Indian Express

More Related Current Affairs View All

23 Sep

Quad grouping

'Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the United States, where he will participate in the fourth Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware.' Quad s the grouping of four de

Read More

21 Sep

India Achieves Tier 1 Status in Global Cybersecurity Index 2024

' India has secured Tier 1 status in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).' The GCI is a comprehensive assessm

Read More

21 Sep

A new White Revolution

'Operation Flood, launched in 1970, ushered in the White Revolution and transformed the dairy sector in India.' Dairy cooperatives procured 660 lakh kg of milk per day in 2023-2

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps