New york: In its capacity as President of the United Nations Security Council for April, the Kingdom of Bahrain chaired a Security Council briefing on the protection of humanitarian personnel in conflict zones, convened pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2730 (2024).
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting was chaired by Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations in New York. The Council heard briefings from Gilles Michaud, UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security; Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; and Elise Nicole Muscini, Permanent Observer and Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations.
In his national statement, the Permanent Representative underscored that Bahrain co-sponsored Resolution 2730 (2024) alongside 97 countries, reaffirming that any attack on humanitarian and UN personnel constitutes an attack on humanity. He noted that, in 2026, humanitarian workers continue to face serious threats, including incidents involving World Food Programme staff, the killing of UNRWA personnel, attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon, and the detention of UN staff in Yemen, as well as other incidents across Sudan, Lebanon, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar.
The Permanent Representative further stated that the Iranian attacks against the Kingdom of Bahrain, GCC member states, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since February 28, carried out in violation of Security Council Resolution 2817, have adversely impacted humanitarian efforts in multiple regions.
He highlighted three priorities for strengthening the protection of humanitarian personnel: ensuring effective implementation of legal protections under Resolution 2730; reinforcing compliance by conflict parties with international humanitarian law and the UN Charter; and addressing emerging technological threats, including the use of drones and disinformation, which endanger humanitarian workers and hinder operations. He also stressed the importance of ensuring rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access, noting that the proliferation of parallel aid channels established by terrorist groups further complicates relief efforts.
The Permanent Representative concluded by expressing Bahrain's appreciation for international efforts supporting humanitarian operations and upholding humanitarian principles, in accordance with international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter.