Dominik Stillhart, director of operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said the charity desperately needed to step up its humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine. The agency is considering whether it could supply supplies to Ukraine via Russia. “There are ongoing discussions [of] where we can create a logistical base. “But for now, we do not have an office,” he told CBC News. With more than $ 82.5 million raised in Canada to support the charity in Ukraine, some have concerns about the vision and impact of the move. The Ukrainian government said Sunday that it strongly opposes the prospect of a Red Cross office in Russia. Ukrainians living in Manitoba have also expressed opposition to the move. “We were terrified, honestly,” said Myroslava Pidhirnyj, a board member of the Manitoba Provincial Congress of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress. “Would they negotiate with Hitler? Would they set up a center in Germany when people were really driven to death? Something similar is happening now in Ukraine.” Myroslava Pidhirnyj, a board member of the Manitoba Provincial Congress of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, said she and other members were “terrified” that the Red Cross would consider setting up an office in Russia. (Trevor Brine / CBC)
“Overwhelming majority” of aid money to be spent in Ukraine: Red Cross
No money has yet been spent in Russia and the “overwhelming amount” of money will continue to be spent inside Ukraine, Stilhart said. At the moment, three-quarters of the funds raised by Canadians go directly to Ukraine, while the rest is spent in neighboring countries helping refugees such as Poland, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, he said. Stilhart said it was important for the Red Cross to work with Russia. “We have to be considered on the ground by the warring parties as neutral,” he said. “We need to have a minimum consensus that we can operate on these front lines. And that is what will help us and will continue to help us, we hope, reach even more people than we do today.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is watching a video interview with some of the Russian media as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues. Ukraine has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross not to set up an office in Russia. (Presidential Press Service of Ukraine / Reuters)
Russia could take advantage of the situation, says the expert
Paul Larson, a humanitarian aid expert and professor at the University of Manitoba, applauded the Red Cross for its efforts to uphold the principles of neutrality and independence. However, he said such a thing in this case is a “very difficult issue” and said that the view of working in Russia could be perceived as the Red Cross supporting the lies supported by the Kremlin for its invasion. “I can say personally, if it seemed that even their appearance supported this lie, they probably received my last donation for quite some time,” he said. Larson also warns that there is a “high probability” that supplies and resources being sent to Russia for Ukraine will be stolen by the Russian military. “There are numerous examples of aid going to war-torn countries to help civilians, but it has essentially been stolen by the military or children with weapons,” he said. “Given the recent history of what Russia is doing, I have no doubt that if they had the opportunity to do so, they would take advantage of the situation.”
title: “Ukrainians Concerned As Red Cross Considers Opening Office In Russia " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-27” author: “Brittany Donahoo”
Dominik Stillhart, director of operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said the charity desperately needed to step up its humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine. The agency is considering whether it could supply supplies to Ukraine via Russia. “There are ongoing discussions [of] where we can create a logistical base. “But for now, we do not have an office,” he told CBC News. With more than $ 82.5 million raised in Canada to support the charity in Ukraine, some have concerns about the vision and impact of the move. The Ukrainian government said Sunday that it strongly opposes the prospect of a Red Cross office in Russia. Ukrainians living in Manitoba have also expressed opposition to the move. “We were terrified, honestly,” said Myroslava Pidhirnyj, a board member of the Manitoba Provincial Congress of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress. “Would they negotiate with Hitler? Would they set up a center in Germany when people were really driven to death? Something similar is happening now in Ukraine.” Myroslava Pidhirnyj, a board member of the Manitoba Provincial Congress of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, said she and other members were “terrified” that the Red Cross would consider setting up an office in Russia. (Trevor Brine / CBC)
“Overwhelming majority” of aid money to be spent in Ukraine: Red Cross
No money has yet been spent in Russia and the “overwhelming amount” of money will continue to be spent inside Ukraine, Stilhart said. At the moment, three-quarters of the funds raised by Canadians go directly to Ukraine, while the rest is spent in neighboring countries helping refugees such as Poland, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, he said. Stilhart said it was important for the Red Cross to work with Russia. “We have to be considered on the ground by the warring parties as neutral,” he said. “We need to have a minimum consensus that we can operate on these front lines. And that is what will help us and will continue to help us, we hope, reach even more people than we do today.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is watching a video interview with some of the Russian media as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues. Ukraine has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross not to set up an office in Russia. (Presidential Press Service of Ukraine / Reuters)
Russia could take advantage of the situation, says the expert
Paul Larson, a humanitarian aid expert and professor at the University of Manitoba, applauded the Red Cross for its efforts to uphold the principles of neutrality and independence. However, he said such a thing in this case is a “very difficult issue” and said that the view of working in Russia could be perceived as the Red Cross supporting the lies supported by the Kremlin for its invasion. “I can say personally, if it seemed that even their appearance supported this lie, they probably received my last donation for quite some time,” he said. Larson also warns that there is a “high probability” that supplies and resources being sent to Russia for Ukraine will be stolen by the Russian military. “There are numerous examples of aid going to war-torn countries to help civilians, but it has essentially been stolen by the military or children with weapons,” he said. “Given the recent history of what Russia is doing, I have no doubt that if they had the opportunity to do so, they would take advantage of the situation.”
