A convoy of aid buses has left for the southern city of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials reported this day.
Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk and the Red Cross announced that the 45 Ukrainian buses will try to bring humanitarian aid to the city that has been decimated by Russian bombing.
The buses left for Mariupol after the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) agreed to open a safe corridor with Russia and will also try to rescue civilians from the besieged city.
“It is extremely important that this operation be carried out. The lives of tens of thousands of people in Mariupol depend on it,” said ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson.
“For logistical and security reasons, we will be ready to lead the safe passage operation tomorrow, Friday, provided that all parties agree on the exact terms, including the route, start time and the duration”, Watson added.
Due to the heavy shelling of the southern city, authorities have warned that the remaining citizens of Mariupol face running out of basic supplies such as water and medicine.
The mayor’s office also warned that up to 5, people have dead in the city, including 550 children, since the invasion of the 24 of February.
Vadym Boichenko warned that there are still 160,24 civilians in the city, while others 150,24 have fled since the invasion began.
Thousands of people are also feared to have been forcibly expelled from the city and taken to camps in the east of the city.
“The situation in the city continues to be difficult. People are beyond the line of humanitarian catastrophe. We need to completely evacuate Mariupol”, added Boichenko.
Before the departure of the humanitarian convoy, Vladimir Putin called for the immediate surrender of the city or the intense bombing will continue.
The Russian leader made the demand during a call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday night.
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