Ukraine relief aid must not be politicized: Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on Russia and Ukraine to establish a common “humanitarian space,” warning against the politicization of humanitarian assistance to the conflict-torn areas in Ukraine’s east.
The President of the ICRC, Peter Maurer, made the remarks on Tuesday, during a three-day visit to the Russian capital, Moscow.
“Humanitarian assistance has been highly politicized, this is not the first time that we are experiencing this, we have experienced it in the context of the Syrian crisis,” said Maurer, adding, “The politicization of humanitarian assistance is complicating humanitarian assistance and we have to make the utmost effort to create a space for mutual and impartial assistance.”
Maurer, who is expected to travel to Ukraine on Wednesday, said he hopes he could convince the government in Kiev “to change maybe some of its policy, and modify some of its policy in support of mutual and impartial operations by the ICRC.”
The comments by the ICRC come as Moscow has sent a series of humanitarian aid convoys across the border into Ukraine. However, Kiev has slammed the Kremlin’s move as a “direct invasion” into the neighboring country.
The two eastern Ukraine regions of Donetsk and Lugansk have been hit by deadly clashes since Kiev launched military operations in April 2014 to crush pro-Russia protests there. The situation worsened a month later when the two cities overwhelmingly voted for independence from Ukraine in referendums.
More than 5,700 people have been killed so far and some 14,000 others wounded in the conflict, the United Nations says. Around 1.5 million others have been also forced from their homes over the past months of turmoil.
SZH/MKA/SS
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