(Ottawa) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is asking Canada not to mix promises of humanitarian aid to Ukraine with announcements of military support or sanctions against Russia.
Posted at 3:57 p.m.
Doing so compromises the neutrality of humanitarian groups on the ground and harms their security, underlines the ICRC’s director of operations, Dominik Stillhart.
“Do not link your humanitarian action to other measures in support of Ukraine that you take for political reasons if you announce them publicly,” asks Mr. Stillhart. The danger is that we perceive this humanitarian aid as a tool or a weapon to support one or the other of the parties. »
He did not give a specific example, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday announced $50 million in additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine and new sanctions against 160 other Russian officials.
Mr. Trudeau was to meet Sunday with members of the Ukrainian community in Montreal.
Canada has so far pledged around $180 million in aid to Ukraine since the invasion began. About 30 million will be donated to the Red Cross. Mr. Stillhart predicts that this amount will swell in the near future.
He says the Red Cross is grateful for the Canadian contribution. The ICRC director of operations also said he understood the federal government’s desire to demonstrate its support for Ukrainians in these times of distress. These remarks are not intended to criticize Canada for having chosen to support Ukraine in this conflict, assures Mr. Stillhart.
It is important that humanitarian action is not part of the war effort. There is too much of a tendency to say that his country helps Ukraine militarily by sending it arms and humanitarian aid.
ICRC Director of Operations Dominik Stillhart
ICRC President Peter Maurer traveled to Moscow last week to meet Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Both discussed ways to protect civilians in Ukraine. He had earlier made a similar visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian officials.
Many members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada criticized Mr. Maurer’s trip to Moscow. Mr Stillhart defended it, saying the ability to speak to both parties was crucial to protecting lives.
PHOTO KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, ASSOCIATED PRESS
ICRC President Peter Maurer traveled to Moscow last week to meet Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“It is difficult for them to understand this, because they are the victims of the attack. Neutrality is a difficult concept to understand when you are under attack. But it is important for the Ukrainian diaspora here to understand that by remaining neutral, we can act in the most difficult to reach places. »
Mr. Stillhart acknowledges that Russia refused to cooperate when it came time to supply and evacuate the civilian population from towns besieged by the invaders, such as Mariupol.
“I would like to see more cooperation from both parties. Trust is totally absent, but more cooperation is needed from both sides, but especially from the Russians. »
The Red Cross has had to withdraw personnel from Mariupol where around 100,000 people are trapped by the Russian siege. Russian artillery and rockets continue to strike the rubble.
“Our team there lacked food, water. She stayed in the shelters with the families for a while, says Stillhart. She couldn’t take it anymore and found a way to escape. The testimonials are truly terrifying. »