The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, during his meetings in Kyiv, Donetsk and Luhansk, reiterated his appeal to provide ICRC delegates with “systematic and unhindered access” to all persons detained by both sides in connection with the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
According to the ICRC press release released on March 10 after a five-day visit of Maurer to Ukraine, the ICRC president also stated that he is holding a dialogue with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities on the issue of missing persons. “There are a large number of people, but no one knows the exact number, perhaps between 1,000 and 2,000 missing as a result of the conflict in eastern Ukraine,” he said.
“Finding answers and supporting families is one of our priorities … Our dialogue with the authorities on this issue has so far been very constructive. But we must not lose momentum. A means to share information on missing people between the sides will be the key to resolving cases,” Maurer said.
He also expressed concern over the living conditions of hundreds of thousands of residents of cities and villages along the contact line after the sudden intensification of hostilities in eastern Ukraine from the beginning of the year and recalled the ICRC’s call for the creation of a number of “safety zones” for better protection of critical water-, gas- and electricity facilities along the contact line.
The ICRC is ready to act as a neutral intermediary, between the sides, on specific humanitarian problems: water supply, detention and others.
In addition Maurer called for “concerted action” to be taken to improve the situation for civilians trying to cross the line of contact, who often have to wait for many hours exposed to heat, cold, and the threat of shelling and landmines.
