The UN denounced on Tuesday the increase in attacks against civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and expressed concern about the use of heavy weapons against cities in the country.
“The Secretary General (António Guterres) is very concerned about the use of heavy weapons against urban centers in Ukraine. These weapons can have a horrible impact on the civilian population“said his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, during his daily press conference.
Dujarric pointed out that with the deaths of civilians and the damage to civilian infrastructure that have been known in the last hours, it is increasingly clear “the human cost” that the conflict is having.
Until now, as of 28 February, the United Nations had counted the death of 136 civilians in attacks, but Dujarric assured today that the real figure is feared to be much higher.
On the humanitarian level, he said that UN agencies and their partners continue to deliver aid despite the difficulties, even in areas with difficult access.
On Sunday, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) delivered a first truckload of aid to central Ukraine to support to families who are in shelters after being evacuated and other people in need.
In addition, the first food shipments organized by the World Food Program (WFP) are on the way from Turkey, according to Dujarric.
On the other hand, the spokesman assured that in recent days Guterres repeatedly tried to guarantee that the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, could travel to Geneva with the in order to participate in the UN Human Rights Council.
Lavrov finally announced on Monday that he was canceling his trip due to the ban on his plane flying over the airspace of several European countries.
Dujarric said that Guterres spoke twice with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, so that Lavrov could arrive in Geneva without the efforts being successful.