On Saturday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the ICRC’s Maurer issued a joint statement appealing for urgent action to address growing instability and human suffering around the world and to enforce international humanitarian law.
“Rarely before have we witnessed so many people on the move, so much instability, so much suffering,” Maurer said.
The statement said conflicts and violence had forced 60 million people from their homes –- the highest figure since World War II.
Ban said in the statement: “In the face of blatant inhumanity, the world has responded with disturbing paralysis… The world must reaffirm its humanity and uphold its commitments under international humanitarian law.”