The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has expressed extreme concern about the millions of residents from Ukrainian cities affected by conflict, including Mariupol, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Sumy, who are now either displaced or living through the horrors of urban conflict.
According to the IRC, these people require urgent humanitarian assistance and at the same time, exposed to safety and security risks as the conflict continues unabated.
The IRC noted in a statement that in its experience, besiegement almost always entails massive civilian suffering which has included attacks on civilians, critical infrastructure and denial of access – all violations of international humanitarian law. As a result, the Rescue Committee stated that it is doubly concerned, given the violations of international law already being committed – such as the targeting of evacuation corridors and the attacks on hospitals.
Bob Kitchen, Vice President of Emergencies at the IRC said as in any conflict, civilians continue to bear the brunt both within Ukraine as well as those that have fled from the country. He said the humanitarian impact of this conflict is soaring because 3 million people have fled Ukraine in the last 2 weeks, making this the fastest and largest displacement crisis this century.
“We’ve seen the humanitarian impact of not being able to reach people in besieged areas before and we must not allow the same to happen once again in Ukraine. During the Syria crisis, in places such as Eastern Ghouta, Yarmuk, Karaya, Foah and other hard-to-reach places, as many as 3.4 million people were without access to essential services and basic provisions due to continuing hostilities and denial of access. Whilst over 3 million refugees have already fled Ukraine, millions more remain inside the country, in need of urgent assistance.
“Our teams on the ground in Poland are reporting that people are crossing the border and arriving severely traumatized and freezing. We are extremely concerned for the safety and security risks for the many women and children that are arriving alone or becoming displaced within Ukraine. As urban areas increasingly fall under siege, the IRC is doubly fearful of witnessing the same cruel tactics inflicted on the populations of Aleppo and Idlib across Ukraine”.
Bob Kitchen
Call for immediate cessation of the conflict
With a lack of clear data of how many people might be affected, the IRC is calling for an immediate cessation of the conflict in order for humanitarian organizations to reach people in the most conflict-affected areas with critical humanitarian aid. “Targeting of humanitarian corridors must cease at once – everyone seeking safety must be allowed to do so through safe and regular pathways”, the IRC pleaded.
Through partners in Poland, IRC is providing information services through an existing hotline, offering legal counseling and psychological support, and also pledged to facilitate access to services (through social workers, interpreters, and cultural assistants) to displaced people. Through partners in Ukraine, and based on individual needs, IRC is also providing evacuation services and essential items to those that have become displaced. These include blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothes as well as cash assistance. Ukrainian Cities Ukrainian Cities Ukrainian Cities
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