 Detention in Non-International Armed Conflict Essential Rules During armed conflict, detention is a common occurrence. International Humanitarian Law provides essential rules to ensure that detainees are treated humanely. Once an enemy surrenders or is wounded and no longer fighting, you must not harm or kill them. Evacuate detainees away from hostilities. Register personal details to identify the detainee, such as their name, date of birth, rank or service number. Inform your superior of any detainees. You must give wounded detainees the medical care they require. Transfer them to a hospital if needed. Release civilians. They must not be detained even if they cook for the enemy, are required to help with the soldier's logistics or family members. Do not torture detainees. Detainees must not be beaten or treated inhumanely in any other way. Provide detainees with food, water and humane living conditions. At a minimum, share what you have. Allow detainees to contact their families. This can be done by phone, by letter, by email or through humanitarian organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC. Inform the ICRC about any detainees as soon as possible. Allow the ICRC to visit the detainees and to speak to them in private. In enemy hands, detainees are vulnerable to abuse. It is your responsibility to treat them humanely.