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In today’s episode, Dr Lauren Sanders talks with Abby Zeith and Michael Talhami of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about urban warfare. Focussing on the impacts of conflict upon urban populations, they look at some of the issues that have arisen in terms of IHL compliance in and around urban centres as a result of technology. They also speak about the current initiatives being undertaken to mitigate harm to civilians as a result of urban conflict.  

Abby Zeith is a Legal Adviser in the ICRC’s Arms and Conduct of Hostilities Unit in Geneva. Her work focuses on urban warfare and the application of the rules governing the conduct of hostilities under international humanitarian law more generally.

Michael Talhami is an Urban Services Advisor in the Water and Habitat at the ICRC. He focuses on urban policy formation that helps guide humanitarian programming in support of helping service providers to ensure operational continuity in service provision (water, wastewater, and energy). Michael was previously the ICRC's Regional Water and Habitat Advisor to the Near and Middle East, and has held consultancies with GIZ and the UNDP in the Middle East, and several international advisory firms, following a career as an environmental engineer.

 Further reading:

• ICRC Handbook, Reducing Civilian Harm in Urban Warfare: A Commander’s Handbook, 2021
• ICRC Report, Urban Services During Protracted Armed Conflict, 2015
• World Bank, ICRC and UNICEF Report, Joining Forces to Combat Protracted Crises, 2021
• ICRC Report, I saw my city die: Voices from the front lines of urban conflict in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, 2017
• ICRC Humanitarian Law and Policy Blog, Urban Warfare Special Series, 2020
• ICRC Report, IHL and the Challenges of Contemporary Armed Conflicts, 2019 
• To be released: ICRC Report on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: A Deadly Choice 
• Professor Anthony King, Urban Warfare in the Twenty-First Century, 2021, Wiley & Sons
• ICRC Law and Policy Blog, Engaging with the industry: integrating IHL into new technologies in urban warfare, 2021
  
  

Note: For more information on the Safe Schools Declaration and the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict visit here. As at time of podcast publication, 112 States have endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration (vice 111 at time of recording).