0031-0330 irl.qxd
2.3.2009
14:19
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WOUNDED AND SICK
CHAPTER VI
Medical Transports
ART. 35. — Transports of wounded and sick or of medical
equipment shall be respected and protected in the same way as
mobile medical units.
Should such transports or vehicles fall into the hands of the
adverse Party, they shall be subject to the laws of war, on condition
that the Party to the conflict who captures them shall in all cases
ensure the care of the wounded and sick they contain.
The civilian personnel and all means of transport obtained by
requisition shall be subject to the general rules of international law.
Protection
ART. 36. — Medical aircraft, that is to say, aircraft exclusively
employed for the removal of wounded and sick and for the
transport of medical personnel and equipment, shall not be
attacked, but shall be respected by the belligerents, while flying at
heights, times and on routes specifically agreed upon between the
belligerents concerned.
They shall bear, clearly marked, the distinctive emblem
prescribed in Article 38, together with their national colours, on
their lower, upper and lateral surfaces. They shall be provided with
any other markings or means of identification that may be agreed
upon between the belligerents upon the outbreak or during the
course of hostilities.
Unless agreed otherwise, flights over enemy or enemy-occupied
territory are prohibited.
Medical aircraft shall obey every summons to land. In the event
of a landing thus imposed, the aircraft with its occupants may
continue its flight after examination, if any.
In the event of an involuntary landing in enemy or enemyoccupied territory, the wounded and sick, as well as the crew of the
aircraft shall be prisoners of war. The medical personnel shall be
treated according to Article 24 and the Articles following.
Medical
aircraft
ART. 37. — Subject to the provisions of the second paragraph,
medical aircraft of Parties to the conflict may fly over the territory
of neutral Powers, land on it in case of necessity, or use it as a port
of call. They shall give the neutral Powers previous notice of their
passage over the said territory and obey all summons to alight, on
land or water. They will be immune from attack only when flying on
routes, at heights and at times specifically agreed upon between the
Parties to the conflict and the neutral Power concerned.
Flight over
neutral
countries.
Landing of
wounded