Syria: Syrian Arab Red Crescent secretary-general killed
25-01-2012 News Release 12/18
Damascus/Geneva (Syrian Arab Red Crescent / ICRC / International Federation) – Dr Abd-al-Razzaq Jbeiro, secretary-general of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and president of its Idlib branch, was shot and killed today near Khan Shaykhun on the Halab-Damascus Highway. The shooting occurred as he was returning to Idlib in a vehicle clearly marked with the red crescent emblem after attending meetings at Syrian Arab Red Crescent headquarters in Damascus.
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are shocked by the death of Dr Jbeiro. They are calling on all those involved in the violence that continues to rage in the country to spare Red Crescent and Red Cross volunteers and staff and the vehicles and facilities they use to perform their duties. The exclusively humanitarian aim of the Red Crescent and Red Cross is to bring aid in a fully impartial and neutral manner to people in need.
The president of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Dr AbdulRahman al-Attar, said that he has "officially requested the Syrian authorities to launch an investigation into the death of Dr Jbeiro."
Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers administer life-saving first aid to the injured. Like all medical personnel, they must be allowed to carry out their work in safety.
For further information, please contact:
Media section, Syrian Arab Red Crescent Damascus, tel: +963 11 535 5873/ 6462
Saleh Dabbakeh, ICRC Damascus, tel: +963 993 700 847 or +963 11 331 0476
Hicham Hassan, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 25 41 or +41 79 536 92 57