“Our task is to open a humanitarian corridor and help people survive, especially the citizens – women, children, the elderly,” said Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s minister for reintegration in the temporarily occupied territories.
“As of 12:30 pm (5:30 pm EST), 45 buses have departed from Zaporizhia for Berdyansk. “Once again, we urge the entire world community to pay attention and help people get out of occupied Mariupol,” Verestsuk said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday it was preparing to facilitate the safe passage of civilians from Mariupol on Friday.
Verestsuk said about 100,000 people in need of immediate evacuation remain in the city, from a pre-war population of more than 400,000.
“That is, another 100,000 women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities who need our help and that of the world,” he said.
Vereshchuk claimed that 45,000 Ukrainian citizens had been forcibly deported to Russia, a number that CNN could not immediately verify. The Russian military says thousands have been evacuated to Russia from separatist-controlled areas and “dangerous areas” in Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Mariupol Deputy Mayor Sergei Orloff told CNN’s John Berman that buses were moving through the evacuation corridor.
Orloff said up to 1,500-2,000 would be able to evacuate the city from today until tomorrow.
He added that there were “continuous street battles” in the city, but that the Ukrainian army was still in control of the city center.
“People who remain in Mariupol” live like mice. They live underground in shelters, shelters from bombs downstairs. So people do their best to be alive in this situation, “he said.
CNN’s Adrienne Vogt contributed to this post.
title: “Evacuation Buses En Route To Mariupol Held At Russian Checkpoint According To Ukrainian Minister " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-19” author: “Phyllis Stringfellow”
“Our task is to open a humanitarian corridor and help people survive, especially the citizens – women, children, the elderly,” said Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s minister for reintegration in the temporarily occupied territories.
“As of 12:30 pm (5:30 pm EST), 45 buses have departed from Zaporizhia for Berdyansk. “Once again, we urge the entire world community to pay attention and help people get out of occupied Mariupol,” Verestsuk said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday it was preparing to facilitate the safe passage of civilians from Mariupol on Friday.
Verestsuk said about 100,000 people in need of immediate evacuation remain in the city, from a pre-war population of more than 400,000.
“That is, another 100,000 women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities who need our help and that of the world,” he said.
Vereshchuk claimed that 45,000 Ukrainian citizens had been forcibly deported to Russia, a number that CNN could not immediately verify. The Russian military says thousands have been evacuated to Russia from separatist-controlled areas and “dangerous areas” in Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Mariupol Deputy Mayor Sergei Orloff told CNN’s John Berman that buses were moving through the evacuation corridor.
Orloff said up to 1,500-2,000 would be able to evacuate the city from today until tomorrow.
He added that there were “continuous street battles” in the city, but that the Ukrainian army was still in control of the city center.
“People who remain in Mariupol” live like mice. They live underground in shelters, shelters from bombs downstairs. So people do their best to be alive in this situation, “he said.
CNN’s Adrienne Vogt contributed to this post.
