UN Security Council
2021

Emphasising with deep concern that ongoing armed conflicts have devastating impacts on civilians and civilian objects, including civilians engaged in duties related to the operation, maintenance or repair of civilian infrastructure that is critical to the delivery of essential services to the civilian population and their assets that are civilian as such, and on objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, exacerbate existing socio-economic fragilities and vulnerabilities, overstretch limited resources, resulting in reduced access to essential services such as health care, water, sanitation, energy, posing devastating consequences for the civilian population, and hindering an effective humanitarian response, Recognizing the interconnectedness of certain essential services, as well as the vulnerabilities of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population that can be damaged in situations of armed conflict, Reiterating the call on all parties to armed conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law including regarding respecting and protecting civilians and taking constant care to spare civilian objects, including such objects critical to the delivery of essential services to the civilian population,