Pray for “safe and unimpeded” humanitarian access to Ukraine

Ahead of Monday’s UN Security Council meeting, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, stressed the urgent need to ensure aid “safely and unhindered” reaches Ukraine’s most vulnerable populations. following the conflict with Russia.

“We need safe passage for humanitarian supplies in areas of active combat,” he said, noting that civilians in places such as Mariupol, Kharkiv, Melitopol and other places are in dire need of relief, especially vital medical supplies.

He noted, in this context, that many modalities are possible, “but this must be done in accordance with the parties’ obligations under the laws of war,” stressing the need to establish a system of permanent communication with the parties to the conflict. To enable the delivery of humanitarian aid.

“The humanitarian notification system can support the delivery of aid to the extent necessary,” he added during this meeting devoted to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

The UN official stressed that the parties should always take care to spare civilians, civilian homes and infrastructure in their military operations. “This includes allowing the safe passage of civilians who voluntarily leave areas of active combat in the direction of their choosing,” he said.

Mr. Griffiths stressed that “all civilians, whether they stay or leave, must be respected and protected.”

According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, a team from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) arrived in Moscow on Monday where it held its first technical meeting with representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense, focusing on ways to enhance cooperation in information exchange to enhance military-civilian cooperation . The aim of these consultations is to facilitate the rapid delivery of essential aid to the most vulnerable populations of Ukraine.

The United Nations Crisis Coordinator in Ukraine, Amin Awad, called on Saturday for an “immediate humanitarian pause,” stressing the urgent need to give priority to regions and geographical sectors “in which there are urgent humanitarian needs in order to intensify the delivery of life-saving.”

The United Nations and its partners have launched an emergency appeal for $1.7 billion to provide the humanitarian assistance Ukraine will need.

This appeal consists of a first plan for the situation inside Ukraine that requires $1.1 billion to cover the increased humanitarian needs of more than six million people affected and displaced by military operations over the next three months.

The second plan, which relates to humanitarian operations in neighboring countries, provides $551 million to help Ukrainians who have fled the border, mainly to Poland, Hungary, Romania and Moldova.