Red Cross urges safe passage for people, aid in Ukraine’s Mariupol
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The International Committee of the Red Cross called on the warring parties on Thursday to let people leave the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol safely and to allow aid in. Up to 40 ICRC staff and their families had to flee the port along with other civilians on Wednesday, because they had […]
Red Cross chief “cautiously positive” about possible prisoner visits in Ukraine
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters on Tuesday that he was “cautiously positive” the ICRC would gain access to Ukrainian and Russian prisoners held in the context of the conflict. The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said on Tuesday that it was holding 200 Russian […]
UN, Red Cross call for protecting civilians, vital structures in Ukraine
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters Civilians and critical infrastructure such as water and power systems in Ukraine must be protected from attacks in line with the rules of war, United Nations and Red Cross officials said on Thursday as aid agencies struggled to assess damage from Russia’s attack. Ukrainian forces fought Russian invaders around nearly all of […]
Afghanistan needs you, Red Cross tells other aid groups; UN official says women live in “incredible fear”
Reuters The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross appealed on Wednesday to other humanitarian organisations to return to Afghanistan and for the World Bank to unlock funds to support the tottering healthcare system. Peter Maurer made the comments in a briefing with reporters at the end of a four-day trip to Afghanistan […]
Nations dawdle on agreeing rules to control ‘killer robots’ in future wars
Nairobi, Kenya Thomson Reuters Foundation Countries are rapidly developing “killer robots” – machines with artificial intelligence that independently kill – but are moving at a snail’s pace on agreeing global rules over their use in future wars, warn technology and human rights experts. From drones and missiles to tanks and submarines, semi-autonomous weapons systems have […]
UN, Red Cross make joint appeal for an end to sexual violence in conflicts
The Red Cross and UN have issued a joint appeal for nations to take greater action to end the use of sexual violence in conflicts and provide more aid to victims. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world was growing “ever more aware of the ubiquity of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence”. Recounting how horrified […]