“Civilians in places such as Mariupol, Kharkiv, Melitopol and other places are in dire need of assistance, especially vital medical supplies,” Griffiths said during an emergency session of the Security Council devoted to the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Russian war in Ukraine.
Griffiths added that “various formulas are possible, but this must be done within the framework of the parties’ respect for their obligations under the laws of war.”
“Both sides must at all times ensure that civilians, civilian homes and infrastructure are spared in their military operations,” the official added.
He stressed that “this includes allowing the safe passage of civilians who leave areas of heavy fighting on a voluntary basis, in the direction of their choosing,” because the humanitarian corridors declared by Moscow lead to Russia or Belarus.
And Martin Griffiths added: “All civilians, whether they stay or leave, must be respected and protected,” denouncing the “needless conflict.”
The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs noted that there is also an “urgent need for a system of continuous communication with the parties to the conflict and guarantees to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance.”
“The humanitarian notification system will allow the delivery of aid on the required scale,” he said.