Strategies for Safeguarding Civilians Amidst Urban Conflicts
In a 2020 episode of the Urban Warfare Project Podcast, Sahr Muhammedally, an expert on urban warfare and civilian protection, shared his insights on the critical issue of safeguarding noncombatants during urban conflict.
As the director for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia at CIVIC (a nongovernmental organization dedicated to protecting civilians in conflict zones), Muhammedally has extensive experience in armed conflict, human rights, and counterterrorism, having worked in various countries including Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen.
Throughout the podcast, Muhammedally discussed various strategies for protecting noncombatants in urban warfare. One of the key strategies he emphasised was establishing safe zones or corridors for civilians to evacuate or receive aid. He also highlighted the importance of limiting the use of heavy weaponry and aerial bombardment in densely populated areas to minimise collateral damage.
Real-time intelligence and surveillance was another topic of discussion, as it plays a crucial role in distinguishing combatants from civilians. Muhammedally also stressed the need for strict adherence to international humanitarian law, such as the Geneva Conventions, to avoid targeting civilian areas.
Deploying humanitarian assistance and medical aid promptly during ongoing operations, using precision targeting and minimising time on the ground in populated areas, training and educating combatants about the importance of protecting civilian lives, and engaging in robust dialogue with local communities to understand their needs and concerns were also among the strategies discussed.
Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the Urban Warfare Project Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, and various other podcast apps. For those interested in a more detailed exploration of Sahr Muhammedally's strategies for protecting noncombatants during urban warfare, it is recommended to visit the official podcast page or transcripts directly.
The image associated with this episode is credited to DmytryiOzhhikhiin from depositphotos.com.
- In the 2020 Urban Warfare Project Podcast, Sahr Muhammedally, an expert in urban warfare, counterterrorism, and human rights, discussed various strategies for protecting civilians during warfare in densely populated areas, such as deploying humanitarian assistance and medical aid, and engaging in dialogue with local communities.
- As the director for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia at CIVIC, Muhammedally emphasized the importance of limiting the use of heavy weaponry and aerial bombardment in densely populated zones to prevent collateral damage, and stressed the need for strict adherence to international humanitarian law.
- In addition to establishing safe zones or corridors for civilians, Muhammedally highlighted the role of real-time intelligence and surveillance in distinguishing combatants from civilians, and advocated for training and educating combatants about the importance of protecting civilian lives.
