We are strongly committed to do so in full compliance with our mandates which are based on the four humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Those principles guide our action for the entire benefit of the civilian populations and thus in full independence and neutrality from political or military objectives.
At a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading in these two regions, unrestricted access to populations is of ultimate importance to carry out life-saving interventions to more than 700,000 people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. We reiterate that the principles of humanitarian action: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, govern the way humanitarian response is carried out by NGOs. We do call on all parties and stakeholders to maintain and facilitate swiftly our access to all affected populations across these regions in order to save civilian lives and recall that humanitarian staff and personal must be protected in all circumstances, in accordance with international humanitarian laws.
6 July 2020