Ukrainian Red Cross Society condemns attack on its base

Kyiv, 1 September 2022 (TDI): The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) strongly condemn the attack on the URCS base in Sloviansk, Ukraine.

Humanitarian facilities, vehicles, and staff need to be protected. Their work is essential, and they should not be targeted, #NotATarget. @RedCrossUkraine and @ICRC joint statement: https://t.co/XTDP5xZKj2

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 31, 2022

Since April 2022, the Emergency Response Team (ERT) of the URCS has been working diligently to ensure the safe evacuation of hundreds of ill patients, elderly people, children, and persons with disabilities from the frontlines.

The Red Cross insignia was prominently displayed on the building and vehicles, and GPS coordinates were provided to all parties.

At the time of the attack, no volunteers were present at the time. Due to the extensive damage to the structures and supplies, efforts to assist populations have been significantly hindered.

The URCS volunteers have been supplying essentials such as food, water, hygiene goods, and medicine and assisting with housing repairs and rebuilding.

International human rights law encompasses the facilities, vehicles, and personnel of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the URCS. An attack on them violates International humanitarian law.

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Together with the URCS, the ICRC is assisting the wounded and individuals who are no longer participating in the international armed conflict in locations close to the front lines.

Ukrainian Red Cross Society

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is the largest voluntary humanitarian organization in Ukraine with a clearly defined authority and scope of multilateral humanitarian actions and social services.

The Ukrainian Red Cross is an organization that operates independently of the government, but during times of major emergencies, it collaborates closely with government authorities.

The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement serve as the foundation for the statutes that govern the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

The purpose of the organization is to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering during times of armed conflict, and provide assistance to both the health authorities and the medical services of the armed forces.