Ahmedabad Hospitals Urged to Display Red Cross Flags amid air strikes

Published On 2025-05-09 07:09 GMT   |   Update On 2025-05-09 07:13 GMT

India's Strategy to Safeguard Hospitals During Military Escalation

Ahmedabad: In the aftermath of India’s air strikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and other locations in Pakistan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a critical advisory to all states and union territories, instructing all hospitals nationwide to prominently display the Red Cross flag.

 The MHA, in its advisory, has mandated that all hospitals across the country prominently display a Red Cross flag. This directive aligns with the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which mandate the protection of medical institutions during armed conflicts.

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Also Read: India Mock Drill: Chandigarh Hospitals directed to strengthen preparedness

According to Ahmedabad Mirror, Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guards, DGP Manoj Agrawal, told Mirror 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.

The Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) has responded positively to the MHA’s advisory, reinforcing the importance of compliance with international humanitarian laws. The AMA released a statement confirming that during the city’s scheduled mock drill and blackout exercises on Wednesday, all hospitals and emergency medical services will remain fully operational. The association underscored that Red Cross flags should be installed in a clearly visible manner on all hospital rooftops to ensure that medical facilities are recognized as neutral zones under international law.

With tensions escalating, the state has also cancelled the leave of police personnel, calling upon officials who are currently on leave to return to duty. This move is designed to bolster internal security and ensure that law enforcement is adequately prepared to handle any emergencies or disruptions arising from the ongoing tensions.

Also Read: Delhi hospitals conduct high-intensity mock drill to boost emergency preparedness

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that as part of a nationwide initiative led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), hospitals across Delhi participated in a high-intensity mock drill on Wednesday to assess their preparedness for large-scale emergencies and emerging threats. Sirens blared, stretchers crowded hospital entrances, and instructions echoed over loudspeakers, creating an atmosphere of urgency as the capital joined the countrywide exercise.
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