The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has reported a sharp deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Oleshky in the Kherson region, which is under Russian occupation, and has called for people to be evacuated.
This is stated in the Commissioner’s statement.
According to him, civilians, including children, are being left without sufficient food, medicines, medical care, water supply and electricity. Reports from the occupied city indicate a high risk of loss of life.
"I am alarmed by the rapid worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky," O’Flaherty said.
The Commissioner stressed that, under international humanitarian law, Russia as the occupying power is obliged to provide the population with food and medical supplies and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
O’Flaherty called for an immediate local ceasefire, unhindered access for humanitarian organisations and the safe evacuation of civilians.
He also emphasised that the dire situation of people who have found themselves near the front line or in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine requires international attention and concrete action.
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged international partners and relevant organisations to work together to ensure immediate humanitarian access to Oleshky and surrounding areas occupied by Russia, and to establish humanitarian corridors.