Water Protection in Armed Conflicts from the Perspective of International Humanitarian Law

Abstract

Water resources in the armed conflict are facing extensive destruction and pollution. Today, protection of water and water resources has become increasingly important during armed conflict. Water resources can be used as a means of warfare, and are also an important source of sustaining civilian life and survival. The key question is, what are the rules in humanitarian law to protect waters during armed conflict? In short, although there are few rules for protecting waters in armed conflict, there are some rules and documents in international humanitarian law. The most important of these rules are: prohibition of water pollution, prohibition of attack on water facilities, guarantee of drinking water rights of prisoners, prohibition of using water as a destructive weapon, and finally the prohibition of attacks on those water resources, which is necessary for the survival of the civilian population. The main purpose of this paper is that for the first time in Persian literature review and analysis of the rules of international humanitarian law concerning the protection of waters and, for the main audience of governments and international lawyers to develop and provide these rules.

Keywords

• water
• armed conflicts
• international humanitarian law