UNSC Open Debate “Protection of civilians in armed conflict: 

Wars in cities - protection of civilians in urban settings”

(25 January 2022; 1000 hrs)

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Mr. President,

At the outset, let me thank the Norwegian delegation for organizing the Open Debate on the important theme of “Wars in cities: protection of civilians in urban settings”. I would also like to convey the greetings and best wishes of my Prime Minister to your Excellency for chairing this important meeting. Our thanks to the Secretary General for his briefing. I also thank President of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Peter Maurer and to Ms. Radhya al-Mutawakel for sharing their insights with us. I also welcome H.E. the Vice President of Ghana and H.E. Foreign Minister of Gabon in our midst. 

Mr. President,

2. We have witnessed an unprecedented resurgence in armed conflicts around the globe which has been further complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to the UN figures, over half of the world’s population lives in urban centres today. This figure is projected to increase to more than two-third by 2050. History has shown us that the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure has been used as a weapon of war, especially during the two World Wars. Subsequent wars and armed conflicts have also witnessed such acts under the guise of "collateral damage". With the growth in urbanization, it is inevitable that the impact of armed conflicts on people living in cities will increase.

3. We are already witnessing the effect of urban warfare and terrorist attacks in cities. According to the Secretary General’s report, more than 50 million people were affected by conflict in urban areas. The use of explosive weapons, particularly those with wide-area effects, continues to expose civilians to a high risk of indiscriminate effects. People in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and Yemen have witnessed the devastation caused by urban conflicts. There are other countries as well which are still reeling from military actions carried out in the past either without due consideration for protecting civilian population, or through deliberate targeting of civilians amounting to genocide as was done in the erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971, now Bangladesh.

4. The primary responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of populations, including the maintenance of essential services, rests with national Governments. However, over decades of practice and shaped by the calamitous experience of destructive wars, we now have a set of international principles and jurisprudence which places no less responsibility on the aggressor to ensure that civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targeted in situations of armed conflicts. In the face of this aggression, especially in the urban areas, it is equally incumbent on States to protect those who put their lives in the line of fire to protect civilians.  In other words, we also need to protect the protectors.

Mr. President,

5. It is a matter of concern that the parties to the armed conflicts till this day seem to consider civilian population and civilian infrastructure as legitimate targets. Such despicable approach has resulted in maiming and killing of thousands and rendering millions homeless.  Civilian population and civilian infrastructure are also easy targets of terrorist groups and non-state actors. Vulnerable groups, women, children and minorities, as well as indispensable civilian infrastructure, hospitals and irreplaceable cultural heritage have been the first casualties of attacks by such actors. 

6. Having suffered the scourge of cross border terrorism for decades, India has always been at the forefront of global counter-terrorism efforts. We have witnessed dastardly terrorist attacks on our cities targeting innocent civilians. Any debate on protection of civilians in urban areas would be incomplete without taking into account the carnage wrought by terrorist forces, especially those backed by State actors. The dastardly terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008 which resulted in the killing of 166 innocent civilians of 15 nationalities is still a ghastly reminder to the entire international community. In recent memory, the Mumbai terror attacks epitomize the sheer scale and scope of urban warfare that we had to mount against jihadi terrorists, when our police personnel had to put their lives on the line to secure the city’s safety.

7. The international community should therefore stand firm on its opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and reject any attempt to provide any justifications for terrorist acts. We should remember that the consequences of any relaxation of our guard on this count would be borne not only by civilians but even by the security forces which combat them in extremely difficult conditions in urban areas. We have already seen implications of such an approach in Europe, where lone wolf attacks have resulted in killings of civilians in urban areas and terrorizing the urban populations. 

Mr. President,

8. While it is important to deliberate on the devastating consequences of armed conflict in the urban setting, we should not ignore fundamental issues and international power politics that contribute to accentuation of armed conflicts. 

9. Today, we need to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of States. All conflicts must be resolved by peaceful means and through political and diplomatic efforts in line with international law and principles of the UN Charter. Similarly, the debate on effects of conflicts in urban settings cannot be de-linked from the post-conflict role. In the post-conflict context, rehabilitation and reconstruction of civilian infrastructure and restoration of essential services should be given high priority to facilitate socio-economic recovery and peace building. Due to the significant costs associated with it, donor countries and UN agencies must provide financial and technical assistance for capacity building.

Mr. President,

10. For our part, India recognizes the importance of rendering assistance to countries that have suffered the destruction of urban infrastructure. After the end of the armed conflict in 2009 in Sri Lanka, India assisted the Government of Sri Lanka in immediately restoring some of the most basic and essential civilian infrastructure.  India deployed 7 de-mining teams on an emergency basis which enabled the internally displace persons (IDPs) to return to their homes and livelihood.  India contributed extensively to rebuild basic essential infrastructure in northern Sri Lanka, including 46,000 houses for IDPs.  India had also invested USD 3 billion in infrastructure and community development projects in Afghanistan. 

11. In conclusion, India stands ready to support efforts towards strengthening the normative architecture for protection of civilians and provision of humanitarian assistance in armed conflict in urban areas as part of a broader endeavor. Such a normative architecture should respect principles of sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity of countries affected by armed conflicts.

I thank you.

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