Russian humanitarian aid delivery delayed due to Ukraine’s failure to ensure security - ICRC

MOSCOW, August 20 (Itar-Tass) - The passage of Russia’s humanitarian convoy to Ukraine is impeded due to Ukrainian authorities’ failure to meet the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) security requirements, Russian Red Cross head Raisa Lukutsova said on Wednesday. “Very many procedural issues have been settled, some 30 ICRC representatives are now working in the Rostov region. But Ukrainian authorities have failed to fulfill one ICRC demand - ensure security of all the personnel, participating in the humanitarian operation,” Lukutsova said, adding that “this is the main reason for which the delivery of the vitally important cargo is delayed.” She said humanitarian cargo passage problems were to be discussed on Wednesday afternoon with Director of the ICRC Operations for Europe and Central Asia Laurent Corbaz who has arrived in Moscow. “The meeting will focus on interaction of the Russian and Ukrainian Red Cross societies in the provision of aid to residents of Ukraine’s east,” Lukutsova said. According to her, Corbaz has arrived in Moscow “for negotiations with the Russian government and Foreign Ministry on the cargo passage.” The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry sent a convoy of some 270 trucks with relief supplies for residents of the war-torn southeast of Ukraine on August 12. The cargo contains some 2,000 metric tons of humanitarian aid, including food (grain, sugar, baby food), medications, sleeping bags and portable power generators. The trucks are still on Russian territory near the border with Ukraine as Kiev, Moscow and the ICRC are trying to reach an agreement on specific terms of the convoy’s travel in Ukraine. Customs inspections of the cargo have not started yet because its safety en route should be guaranteed first, the ICRC said. Learn more on itar-tass.com