Last week, Maurer travelled to Luxembourg for a three-day visit, during which he met with Grand Duke Henri, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn, and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs Franz Fayot.
Over the last decade, conflicts all around the world seem to have intensified, explained the Swiss diplomat in conversation with RTL. In September, Maurer is set to step down as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross after holding the position for ten years.
Maurer spoke about the importance of the Geneva Conventions, which affect the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war, and civil infrastructures. He explained that these matters are of upmost priority for the Red Cross.
Since the Swiss diplomat acts as an intermediary between the opposing fractions in the Ukraine war, he was unwilling to address specific situations, but noted that it generally represents a great challenge for the Red Cross.
The humanitarian organisation has been active in Ukraine for the past eight years, ever since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, but the invasion still turned matters worse: “The humanitarian consequences are enormous. We have record-breaking numbers of people who were forced to flee. Civil infrastructure has been destroyed all over Ukraine.”
Negotiations about prisoners of war, fallen soldiers, and deceased civilians are continuously being held with both sides, which Maurer believes to a small success: “We firmly believe that the dialogue needs to start on the basis of upholding civilian rights.”
The diplomat also spoke about the global consequences of the war in Ukraine, such as the shortages in grain and increases in energy prices: “We are seeing the first implications in eastern Africa, but also in other economies around the world, like Lebanon, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.”
Aside from the humanitarian consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Maurer also provided concluding remarks about the global missions that the Red Cross carries out in other conflict zones: “The conflicts seem to become longer and more detrimental to the civilian populations, and we often have to react to migratory movements. Humanitarian work has further been changed by urban combat.”
