The International Committee of the Red Cross said April 1 that it has postponed an attempt to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol. “The ICRC team that had been on its way to Mariupol on Friday to facilitate the safe passage of civilians had to return to Zaporizhzhia after arrangements and conditions made it impossible to proceed,” the ICRC said. “The ICRC team, which consists of three vehicles and nine personnel, did not reach Mariupol or facilitate the safe passage of civilians today… They will try again on Saturday.”
A total of 45 buses were reportedly ready to take people out of the city but safe passage for them by Russian forces could not be guaranteed. Ukraine has criticized the dubious role of the Red Cross in Russia’s war on Ukraine, and questions have been raised both about its neutrality and passive humanitarian role.
Mariupol has been shelled almost continuously by Russian forces for several weeks, and 90% of its buildings have reportedly been damaged. At least 5,000 people have died. Russian troops have so far been unable to capture the entire city. However, at least 150,000 civilians are thought to remain in the city, which before the war was inhabited by half a million people. They have had no food, running water or power for many days. Numerous efforts have been made to evacuate civilians and allow in humanitarian aid, but so far few people have been able to leave.
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of forcibly moving some 40,000 people out of the city into Russia and then into so-called filtration camps.
