UN, ICRC send another evacuation convoy toward Mariupol’s Azovstal

This was stated by Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths at the Donors' Conference for Ukraine in Warsaw on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Griffiths spoke about a joint operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate people from Mariupol.

More than 100 people have been taken out of Azovstal, while more than 340 civilians from different parts of the city were removed yesterday, the official said.

Today, at this moment, the convoy is heading to Azovstal, where it should arrive tomorrow morning. The organizations hope to take those who remain in “this hell” and bring them to safety, said the UN Deputy Secretary General.

He also noted the extreme complexity of the operation.

Griffiths stressed solidarity with Ukraine and stressed the need to do everything possible to reduce human suffering.

The organization has approved an emergency request to raise $2.25 billion and there is hope that this money will be collected, said the UN representative.

The war, he noted, caused the largest movement of refugees since World War 2 - on a scale never seen before in Europe. More than 5.6 million refugees had left for Europe, while another 7 million became internally displaced within the country. But there are many who simply cannot leave their homes, the official noted, including the elderly, the disabled, and other groups.

The United Nations estimates that nearly 16 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian assistance. About 40% of those who left their homeland need help, Griffiths added.

According to him, the UN and more than 200 humanitarian partners of the organization are working to provide assistance, attracting additional staff. Eight humanitarian hubs were set up outside Kyiv.

Griffiths visited Kyiv a week ago, saw mass graves, and talked to survivors of Russian atrocities.

As Ukrinform reported, the Donors' Conference for p Ukraine is being held in Warsaw today, May 5. The event was initiated by the Prime Ministers of Poland and Sweden – Mateusz Morawiecki and Magdalena Andersson. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for Ukraine’s mounting humanitarian needs. Poland and Sweden thus seek to encourage their partners to jointly respond to the difficult humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The partners of the event are President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel.