Ukraine: ICRC facilitates safe transport of more than 1,000 civilians to Zaporizhzhia

An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) team has led a convoy of buses and private cars carrying more than 1,000 people to Zaporizhzhia. The civilians transported in the humanitarian convoy had fled Mariupol on their own.

"We walked, decided to go with the child. And our family let us go with tears in their eyes, because this is a long journey and it is definitely dangerous,” said Nykol who fled Mariupol.

The convoy that the ICRC led left Berdiansk on Tuesday and reached Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday. The ICRC team had tried over the course of five days and four nights to reach Mariupol, and came within 20 kilometres of the city, but security conditions on the ground made it impossible to enter.

“As you can see, we have made it to Zaporizhzhia with seven other buses and more than 500 civilians that were coming out of Mariupol, leading a safe passage out to Zaporizhzhia. We hope that we'll be back and continue to provide the safe passage to the civilians. And we have also observed acute humanitarian needs that we hope to respond as a neutral humanitarian intermediary and continue to help civilians,” said Umar Naseem Khan, head of ICRC’s sub delegation in Dnipro.

The ICRC remains ready to facilitate the safe passage of civilians from Mariupol and other cities, provided that the parties to the conflict ensure the necessary security guarantees and conditions.

Note to editors:

1. Umar Naseem Khan refers to more than 500 civilians, but the number is more than 1,000
2. Quote from Pascal Hundt, ICRC head of delegation in Ukraine (not in AV footage): "This convoy's arrival to Zaporizhzhia is a huge relief for hundreds of people who have suffered immensely and are now in a safer location. It's clear, though, that thousands more civilians trapped inside Mariupol need safe passage out and aid to come in. As a neutral intermediary, we're ready to respond to this humanitarian imperative once concrete agreements and security conditions allow it."
3. The ICRC has been working in Ukraine since 2014, supporting people affected by conflict. Since the recent escalation of the crisis, we have brought over 700 tons of medical supplies, food and relief items into the country to respond to skyrocketing humanitarian needs. We will continue to scale up our work and now have teams in 10 locations across the country.
4. Established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. A neutral, independent and impartial organization, its mandate stems from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and works in more than 100 countries.

For more information:

Jason Straziuso (English, French), ICRC Geneva, jstraziuso@icrc.org, Tel.: +41 79 949 35 12

Crystal Wells (English), ICRC Geneva, cwells@icrc.org, Tel.: +41 79 642 80 56 

Loglist:

ICRC Ref: 20220406-Zaporizhzhia-HumCorridorgr

Date: 06.04.22

Camera: ICRC

00:00 Convoy of buses and cars between Berdiansk and Zaporizhzhia

00:14 Umar Naseem Khan, Head of Sub Delegation ICRC in Dnipro.

"As you can see, we have made it to Zaporizhzhia with seven other buses and more than 500 civilians that were coming out of Mariupol, leading a safe passage out to Zaporizhzhia. We hope that we'll be back and continue to provide the safe passage to the civilians. And we have also observed acute humanitarian needs that we hope to respond as a neutral humanitarian intermediary and continue to help civilians."

00:41 People wait with their suitcases

00:54 Suitcases

01:04 Nykol and her family who fled Mariupol:

 "We decided to go with the child, our relatives let us go with tears in our eyes, because it is a long way and it is definitely dangerous."

01:16 People carrying their luggage

01:47 Buses

02:23 The convoy passes by

02:48 ICRC flag

02:54 Cars, part of the convoy, follow behind the buses

03:05 Buses

03:13 ENDS