--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The principal cause of suffering during…" description: "\"The principal cause of suffering during humanitarian crises is insufficient respect of applicable rules of international humanitarian law.\" — Peter Maurer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/peter-maurer-8286_cause_the-principal-cause-of-suffering-during_1152208.jpg" --- # The principal cause of suffering during humanitarian… ![“The principal cause of suffering during humanitarian crises is insufficient respect of applicable rules of international humanitarian law.” quote by Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/peter-maurer-8286_cause_the-principal-cause-of-suffering-during_1152208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/peter-maurer-8286_cause_the-principal-cause-of-suffering-during_1152208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/peter-maurer-8286_cause_the-principal-cause-of-suffering-during_1152208.jpg) > “The principal cause of suffering during humanitarian crises is insufficient respect of applicable rules of international humanitarian law.” [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering in crises stems from failure to honor humanitarian law rules. **In simple terms:** Ignoring law causes suffering. Key Takeaway Respect rules to reduce suffering. Themes humanitarian law conflict rights Mood serious concerned Type policy ethical When to use this quote - disaster response - peacekeeping - NGO work - policy drafting Key Concepts International law ethical compliance Questions to Reflect On - How can compliance be ensured during emergencies? - What mechanisms improve rule respect? A Different Perspective Legal enforcement is often weak in chaotic settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause/) [Crises Insufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crises-insufficient-3261853/) [Humanitarian Crises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanitarian-crises-451269/) [Humanitarian law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanitarian-law/) [International Humanitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-humanitarian-1094761/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Humanitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-humanitarian-3261854/) ## Related quotes > [What the hell is happening to the world when those who were at the origin of... international humanitarian law start questioning in public debates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/what-the-hell-is-happening-to-the-world-when-those-who-were-at-the/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [Ensuring the respect of international humanitarian law and principles is one of the key areas necessary to establish accountability chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/ensuring-the-respect-of-international-humanitarian-law-and-principles/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [There seems to be a strong possibility that international humanitarian law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navi-pillay/there-seems-to-be-a-strong-possibility-that-international/) [Navi Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navi-pillay/) > [Every day, we hear of civilians being killed and wounded in violation of the basic rules of international humanitarian law and with total impunity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/every-day-we-hear-of-civilians-being-killed-and-wounded-in-violation/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [“It’s only going to take another week of this and we’re going to have the mother of all humanitarian crises on our hands. 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