The International Committee of the Red Cross has said a recent escalation of violence in the western Iraqi city of al-Qaim has resulted in very high numbers of civilian casualties and refugees. According to a statement published by the ICRC on Monday, fighting near the Iraqi border has forced hundreds of women, children and elderly persons to flee their homes and take refuge in surrounding areas.The press release also urged "all those involved in the fighting to respect the basic rules of international humanitarian law" and called for an end to attacks on civilians, the poor treatment of wounded fighters and an end to discrimination in caring for the sick. The ICRC calls upon all those involved in the fighting to take every feasible precaution to spare civilians and to ensure that the principles of distinction and proportionality are respected in all military operations."