The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is working with the United Nations (UN) on an operation to evacuate people from Mariupol and the besieged Azovstal steel plant, according to a statement from the organization.
“The ICRC confirms that a safe passage operation is under way, in coordination with the UN and the parties to the conflict. The civilian evacuation convoy started on April 29, traveled about 230 kilometers and arrived at the Mariupol plant on Saturday morning, local time, according to the statement.
“The ICRC insists that no details can be shared until the situation allows, as this could seriously compromise the safety of civilians and the convoy. Relevant local authorities are communicating with civilians about practical details.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on social media on Sunday that the “evacuation of civilians from Azovstal has begun”.
“The 1st group of about 100 people is already heading towards the controlled zone,” added Zelensky.
“The evacuation of civilians from Azovstal has begun. The 1st group of about 100 people is already heading to the controlled area. Tomorrow we will meet them in Zaporizhzhia. Gratitude to our team! Now they, together with the #UN, are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant.”
The Mariupol city council said on Sunday there was a “chance” to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol.
The Council requested that people gather at 4 pm local time (10 am GMT) near a shopping center called “Port City” in order to evacuate them to the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.
“If you have relatives or acquaintances in Mariupol, try to contact them by all means. Call, text and say that it is possible to go to Zaporozhzhia, where it is safe,” the Council said via Telegram. “We pray that everything works out,” he added.
A local Telegram channel previously said that until 3 pm local time, a “green corridor” would be open for citizens wishing to enter territory “controlled by the enemy in the Kamensky district”.
There are around 100,000 people still in Mariupol, although most of the city has been severely damaged by weeks of bombing and airstrikes by Russian forces.
Mariupol is home to the steel mill Azovstal, which has been subjected to intense Russian bombardment in recent weeks. Hundreds of people, dozens of them injured, are believed to be inside the steel complex.
On Sunday, Russian state news agencies said 46 civilians had been evacuated from the vicinity of the plant, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
His reports followed comments from a Ukrainian commander inside the factory, stating that some civilians were evacuated from the steelworks following the introduction of a ceasefire.
These civilians, all women and children, were expected to go to the “agreed destination” of Zaporizhzhia, Captain Svyatoslav Palamar said.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
