Ukraine: The UN Calls for Immediate ‘Humanitarian Pause’ in Fighting in Mariupol
GHRTV
25-04-2022
Myrthe Niemeijer
International Justice and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
On 24 April, UN Ukraine crisis coordinator Amin Awad called for a pause in hostilities to enable trapped civilians to leave Mariupol and allow humanitarian aid. This appeal echoes that of UN Secretary-General António Guterres last week, calling for a ‘humanitarian pause’ in fighting and referring to the four-day Orthodox Easter period as a time to unite.
Mariupol’s mayor Vadym Boychenko has reported already more than 20,000 civilians have died in the city since the start of Russia’s invasion. As the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, Mr Awad has further warned that the lives of tens of thousands of civilians are at risk. He emphasised it is crucial to facilitate safe evacuation from Mariupol as soon as possible, as ‘[t]omorrow could be too late’.
Sources and further reading:
UN Humanitarian Aid News. (2022, April 24). ‘Tomorrow could be too late’: The UN calls for immediate halt to fighting in Mariupol, Ukraine. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1116772
