The Red Cross has said it is trying to establish relations with Islamic State to provide aid to people in its territory. The disclosure comes ahead of an emergency meeting being held in Geneva, Switzerland.
The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross said the organization was seeking permission from IS to provide humanitarian aid in the huge swath of territory controlled by the terrorist group.
“Yes, we are of course looking at building a relationship” with IS, ICRC Director General Yves Daccord told AFP ahead of a meeting in Geneva beginning on December 8.
Daccord told the reporter there are 10 million people living under IS who are in need of humanitarian assistance.
“We are interested in these 10 million people. What happens to them? What are their problems? This is what will guide us,” Daccord said.
The meeting, in which thousands of ICRC employees gather together to discuss obstacles faced by the humanitarian aid community is held every four years.
This year’s meeting in Geneva will address the issue of the rules of war. The ICRC wants to consider a resolution that will require all states who have signed the Geneva Conventions to participate in an annual meeting in which they disclose how their governments are upholding the rules of war in order to protect civilians, prisoners and the wounded.
