The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, stressed, on Saturday, the necessity of maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon, in order to help the displaced return to their areas, and deliver humanitarian aid to those in need.

In statements during her visit to Lebanon today, Spoljaric warned that "civilians cannot afford a collapse of the ceasefire, which could return them to a cycle of violent fighting and the resulting death and destruction," according to a statement issued by the International Committee.

“Maintaining the ceasefire is essential so that families can return home and rebuild their lives, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those most in need,” Spoljaric said.

"Humanitarian needs in Lebanon have increased dramatically following the recent escalation in hostilities," she added.

She pointed out that "the scope of destruction and the massive humanitarian needs in Lebanon could have been greatly reduced if the parties to the conflict had fully adhered to the rules of war."

She pointed out that the texts of international humanitarian law are clear in this regard, as they emphasize the necessity of "protecting civilians and ensuring their access to humanitarian aid."

Since November 27, a fragile ceasefire has prevailed, ending the mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that began on October 8, 2023, and then turned into a full-scale war on September 23.

The Israeli aggression on Lebanon resulted in 4,063 martyrs and 16,664 wounded, including a large number of children and women, in addition to the displacement of about 1,400,000 people. Most of the victims and displaced persons were recorded after the escalation of the aggression on September 23.

Spoljaric arrived in Lebanon on Friday, and on the same day visited the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut, which is a stronghold of Hezbollah, to explore infrastructure projects that contribute to restoring basic services.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed, via its account on the X platform, coinciding with Spoljaric's visit, that it "remains committed to supporting communities in Lebanon to recover and rebuild."

She explained that this includes "repairing basic infrastructure, providing medical care and relief supplies, supporting livelihoods, and raising awareness of the dangers of unexploded ordnance as families return home."

Following the conclusion of her visit to Lebanon today, Spoljaric left for Syria to hold meetings with the authorities there and assess the humanitarian needs in the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a humanitarian mission based on the Geneva Conventions of 1949, helping people affected by armed conflict and other violence around the world.