CIVILIANS, AID WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS HELPING WAR-AFFECTED CIVILIANS MUST BE PROTECTED 

Not a day passes by without strikes by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, crushing the lives of people across Ukraine. 

Yesterday and today, dozens of civilians in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia were, once again, killed or injured. And once again, first responders who rushed to help were also affected by a series of strikes.  

It is unacceptable that places which are designated to help people in need – centres where those who have fled their homes live and receive support, or offices of aid organizations – are hit, hampering access to humanitarian assistance for those who depend on it.

I condemn this apparent pattern of continued attacks impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Civilians, aid workers and first responders helping war-affected civilians must be protected. International humanitarian law must be respected.