After the Indian armed forces carried out air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and two sites in Pakistan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an important advisory to all states.
Due to the tense situation with Pakistan, state authorities have cancelled police leaves, and officials already on leave have been asked to return to duty.
According to the advisory, every hospital must prominently display a Red Cross flag to ensure compliance with the Geneva Conventions of August 1949. This measure is intended to protect medical facilities from being targeted in any military action by enemy nations.
Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guards, DGP Manoj Agrawal, told to media that under the Geneva Conventions, attacks on hospitals displaying a Red Cross symbol visible from the air are strictly prohibited. “Civil Defence personnel are also protected under these conventions and cannot be targeted during wartime,” he added.
Following the advisory, the Ahmedabad Medical Association confirmed that hospitals and emergency medical services will remain fully functional during Wednesday’s planned mock drill and blackout exercises.
The association stressed the need to clearly display Red Cross flags on hospital rooftops to avoid any military targeting, in line with international humanitarian law.
It has urged all hospitals in the city to prominently hoist the Red Cross flag to ensure full compliance.