Ukraine asks Red Cross to open corridor for evacuation from Oleshky

Ukraine calls for an urgent creation of a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians from the occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region.

This is reported by Hromadske with reference to the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

According to the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, from early February to mid-April, 119 appeals were received from residents of the city. People report long stays in shelters, lack of food, water and medical care.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets emphasizes that civilians are effectively blocked and cannot leave on their own due to mined roads, checkpoints and restrictions on movement. Children, the elderly and the seriously ill remain in the city and need immediate assistance.

The Ukrainian side has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to use its mandate to organize a safe corridor and deliver humanitarian aid.

An appeal was also sent to the Russian Ombudsman and the Red Cross leadership to launch the evacuation mechanism. Negotiations between the parties are currently underway to open a humanitarian route.

The ICRC reports that it is working to obtain more information about the needs of civilians and is holding consultations to ensure access to assistance. At the same time, the organization is helping people from the area to reunite with their families through a safe crossing program.

The Ukrainian authorities emphasize that the creation of a humanitarian corridor is critically important to save civilians who are unable to leave safely or remain in constant danger.

Earlier, Intent wrote that a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the occupied Oleshky on the left bank of the Kherson region. The city is virtually cut off from the world - without a normal supply of food, medicine and the ability to leave. People are speaking frankly: they are starting to die of hunger.

Андрій Колісніченко