(International Watch) International aid not withdrawn from Ukraine urges civilians to be protected

　　China News Agency, Beijing, February 28th: ​​International aid has not been withdrawn from Ukraine, calling for civilians to be protected

　　China News Agency reporter Xiao Xin

　　Civilians who have been forcibly displaced by conflict are heartwarming.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees both told China News Agency reporters on the 28th that they currently have a large number of employees stationed in Ukraine, and humanitarian operations there are urgently launched. Refugees get ready.

On February 26, local time, at the Medika border crossing between Ukraine and Poland, Ukrainians waited in line to enter Poland.

According to a report by Sky News on the 26th, the United Nations refugee agency confirmed that more than 120,000 Ukrainians have left the country since Russia launched a special military operation.

According to statistics, most people traveled to Poland and Moldova, but some arrived in Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.

Inside Ukraine: Rescue operations are underway without international agencies evacuating

　　An official from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in China told reporters that Ukraine ranks among the top ten countries in the world in terms of the scale of humanitarian operations carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Currently, more than 600 ICRC employees are stationed on the ground and are doing their best to help people affected by the conflict.

　　According to the latest news from the ICRC's office in Kyiv, over the past weekend, the ICRC provided the Ukrainian Red Cross with supplies such as portable buckets and first aid kits to meet the needs of displaced people in the eastern city of Mariupol.

Previously, the ICRC had delivered 16,200 liters of drinking water to villages in Donbass.

"We are extremely concerned that the conflict is affecting highly populated areas, including the capital Kyiv and other major cities."

　　UNHCR, which has multiple offices and more than 100 employees across Ukraine, is working closely with branches in Ukraine and surrounding countries to prepare when the conflict begins to escalate, according to sources at the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). supplies, pre-deployed in place.

These supplies include shelters, blankets, food kits, hygiene kits, medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and more.

On the 28th local time, the first UNHCR truck to deliver aid from Kyiv arrived in Krivoy Rog.

　　The UNHCR spokesperson pointed out that, in fact, before the conflict broke out, there were already a large number of displaced people in Ukraine, "The figures we have are that there were 850,000 displaced people in Ukraine before, and we are most concerned about the most vulnerable groups, especially women. and children, their ability to reach safe places such as shelters is our priority."

　　The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) confirmed at its headquarters in New York that the agency is "expanding a range of projects to save children's lives in eastern Ukraine, including the delivery of safe drinking water by truck to conflict-affected areas; Communities pre-deployed health, hygiene and emergency education supplies, as well as working with local governments, to ensure timely assistance for children and families in need."

On February 26, local time, at the Medika border crossing between Ukraine and Poland, Ukrainians waited in line to enter Poland.

According to a report by Sky News on the 26th, the United Nations refugee agency confirmed that more than 120,000 Ukrainians have left the country since Russia launched a special military operation.

According to statistics, most people traveled to Poland and Moldova, but some arrived in Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.

Neighboring countries: Ukrainian refugee population soars, ready for resettlement

　　According to data released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the military conflict in Ukraine has displaced 160,000 people from 4:00 a.m. local time on the 24th to 17:00 on the 26th, of which more than 116,000 people have crossed the border to seek refuge in neighboring European countries.

The latest news released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees through social networks on the 28th said that the number of refugees entering Europe from Ukraine increased to 368,000.

International agencies predict that if the situation spirals out of control, there could be as many as millions of Ukrainian refugees.

　　According to UNHCR's information, most of the Ukrainian people who crossed the border into Europe after the conflict broke out went to Poland, many went to Moldova, and a few went to countries such as Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

　　Statistics from the Polish border defense department show that more than 210,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Poland, and nearly 60,000 people arrived on the 27th local time alone.

A message from UNHCR at the Polish border said that the local traffic stretched 14 kilometers, and some people said they had waited at the border for more than 36 hours.

Almost all women and children waiting to enter the country stayed in Ukraine.

　　The video sent by UNHCR's representative in Central Europe, Schilling, at the border between Ukraine and Moldova shows that a camp consisting of light blue tents has been set up to provide temporary shelter for refugees, and many people are queuing up to cross the border.

"In the past 36 hours, thousands of refugees have poured into Moldova, including large numbers of women and children," he said.

　　According to local media reports, at present, Poland has set up 9 special resettlement centers in the border area, and all border crossing points are open to transit people. The Polish government has even canceled the requirements for quarantine and COVID-19 negative certificates when entering Poland from Ukraine.

　　Shirin also said: "Despite the heartbreak and hardship people are facing, the attitude of the Moldovan government is impressive, the process of entry is very smooth, people don't have to provide passports, they can enter from here, and there are free buses waiting for them after crossing the border. There are local communities to help the refugees, to give them food and help."

　　The EU's Home Affairs Commissioner said on the 27th local time that the EU will establish a "solidarity and relief platform" to coordinate all kinds of support needed by member states to provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees.

EU member states may offer temporary asylum for up to three years to all Ukrainians entering the bloc.

　　The Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations in Europe also issued a statement on the 27th, saying that if overseas Chinese and students in Ukraine enter Poland, Belarus, Romania, Hungary and other countries, if they need living assistance and daily help, they will provide free shuttle bus and free living assistance.

Many overseas Chinese organizations in Poland, Hungary and other countries also voluntarily announced the telephone numbers of volunteers for rescue services, saying that "if one party is in trouble, all parties will support it."

Urgent Appeal: In Conflict, Civilians Must Be Protected

　　"People in eastern Ukraine and other regions have been in conflict for eight years, and now they are facing more violence, suffering and casualties. Ordinary people in Ukraine are suffering the devastating consequences of the escalation of the conflict." The ICRC emphasized in particular, "We urgently appeal to all parties to the conflict. , and must not forget about its obligations under international humanitarian law, which clearly states that all parties to a conflict have a legal obligation to ensure that civilians and civilian objects are protected when planning and conducting military operations.”

　　The psychological trauma of the people suffering from the conflict is also in desperate need of solace.

UNICEF noted that the conflict in Ukraine over the past eight years has caused deep and lasting damage to local children.

Mobile teams supported by the agency provide psychosocial support locally to children traumatized by chronic insecurity.

The ICRC also pointed out that "as the conflict situation continues to escalate, the people's suffering and fear continue to deepen." "Ukrainian people are the last thing they want to see the violence intensify, resulting in more casualties and more damage, and do not want to be immersed in endless disappointment. We call on all parties to do everything within their sphere of power and influence to avoid an escalation of the conflict.”

(over)