It’s difficult, if not impossible, to find a moment that stands out as a symbol of the needless suffering and death in the Syrian conflict. However, in the humanitarian community that moment was last month, when an aid convoy was bombed in Aleppo. At least 21 people were killed trying to deliver life-saving supplies to some of the hundreds of thousands of Syrians surviving in what can only be described as hell on earth.

The convoy was one of many it was hoped would be let through during the ceasefire. Tragically, the ceasefire didn’t last long enough for that to happen. The air raid destroyed 18 United Nations and Red Cross Red Crescent trucks and countless lives. The images of burnt trucks and food are reminders of how difficult it is to deliver relief to the besieged city and how important it is to retain some humanity in war.

One of those killed in the bombing was Omar Barakat, director of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent branch in Orem al-Kubra near Aleppo. Omar was directly involved in securing permits for the aid convoy that would end his life. His nine children have lost their father forever.

Recent ceasefires have been an important step towards peace. They give hope to so many Syrians who have been living in fear for five and a half years: fear that they might be next; fear that they may not survive the coming winter. No one should have to live with such fear. Reinstating the ceasefire must be a priority for all.

“The Syrian tragedy shames us all. The collective failure of the international community should haunt every member of the Security Council,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon recently.

We can and must do much better for the people of Syria. All parties to this conflict must respect the laws of war, which means protecting civilians and humanitarian workers. Even without the ceasefire, humanity can be restored with some determined steps.

First and foremost is the need for safe and unhindered access to deliver aid to all areas. Since the start of the conflict, we have been calling on all those fighting to allow free and unharmed passage of essential humanitarian aid in accordance with international humanitarian law. Day in, day out, Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers play a critical role negotiating access across the frontlines, to get aid to where it’s needed. Over the past three years, the call for help to allow safe passage of aid to besieged areas has reached a deafening crescendo. We have been echoing those cries from Aleppo and Damascus to all parties involved in this conflict.

Secondly, there must not be complacency in the face of  attacks on those delivering aid. It is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. It must not be allowed in Syria or anywhere. These laws of war must be respected to maintain any semblance of humanity.

Thirdly, humanitarian aid workers must be protected, including doctors and nurses, so they can do their work unharmed. In Aleppo right now, Red Cross Red Crescent is on standby to evacuate hundreds of wounded and sick people who desperately need help. Safety and security of the patients is not guaranteed, which means the evacuations can not proceed. This is not good enough. Civilians have the right to the basic necessities of life, including health care.

All those providing life-saving health care in hospitals and bullet-ridden makeshift clinics need to be allowed to do their work without fear of being bombed. More than 730 medical workers have been killed since the start of the Syrian conflict in 360 attacks on medical facilities according to the United Nations; more than one attack a week for five years. This must stop.

Doctors must be allowed to operate. Nurses must be allowed to care. Engineers must be allowed to repair damaged water infrastructure. Aid workers must be allowed to deliver food and other essential supplies. They are not part of the fight and must be protected through respect of international humanitarian law.

Let’s make no mistake. It is a complex crisis. This is the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Eighteen million Syrians need regular help to live. A country that had nearly the same population as Australia has lost five million people who have left to seek a safer life. Imagine the whole population of Sydney or Melbourne on the move.

All governments and parties involved in the Syria crisis must not only respect but uphold the laws of war. These laws were first developed more than 150 years ago but it took the two devastating world wars before governments of the globe recognised how critical these laws are for humanity.

It’s simple. The red cross and the red crescent are symbols which mean ‘don’t shoot’.

Every day, thousands of ordinary Syrian mums and dads, uncles and aunties, sisters and brothers get out of bed and pull on red and white Syrian Arab Red Crescent outfits to volunteer and help their communities survive through this brutal and destructive war. We honour you and mourn your loss.

It is fitting to end with the words of one of Omar Barakat’s colleagues: “They want to kill humanity, but humanity will not die”.

Judy Slatyer is the chief executive officer of Australian Red Cross.

This article is published under a Creative Commons Licence and may be republished with attribution.