ICRC to continue operation in Donbass, adapt to coronavirus threat

Donetsk, Mar 19 – DAN. Personnel of the International Committee of the Red Cross will continue to provide assistance to Donbass residents on both sides of the contact line despite the COVID-19 problem, the ICRC public relations office in Donetsk told the Donetsk News Agency on Thursday.

“The ICRC teams on both sides of the contact line will continue to help the most vulnerable groups of the population during the COVID-19 crisis, paying special attention to the provision of access to medical aid,” the ICRC said. “We will also continue to provide access to the staples such as foodstuffs to the elderly and the persons living in the vicinity of the contact line.”

It also said that it would continue to support the companies supplying water to the population on both sides of the contact line.

“In the light of spreading of the 2019-nCoV virus, the ICRC would like to inform the public that our humanitarian work and aid to the war-hit Donbass areas will continue and that it will be adapted to the measures taken to contain the virus,” the organisation said.

“Despite the fact that the attention is now focused on the measures to contain COVID-19, we have to remind that the military, too, has to exercise caution bearing in mind the international humanitarian law, and be lenient to civilian population and key infrastructure facilities during the fighting. A single strike at water supply facilities can prove lethal for thousands of civilians who will be unable to use such basic preventive measure as frequent hand washing,” the ICRC said.

The ICRC public relations department said that the organisation would continue to monitor the situation and maintain dialogue with all the interested parties with the view of ensuring the ICRC’s non-stop operation.

Earlier reports on Thursday said that OSCE SMM had denied suspending operation in Donbass due to COVID-19.*jk

Related

DPR Ministry bans cultural, entertainments events due to coronavirus threat

OSCE SMM denies rumours on suspending operation in Donbass due to COVID-19

DPR cancels all republican sport events from March 19 to March 31

DPR schools, universities switch to online courses