A third operation is underway to evacuate civilians from the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol and the besieged Azovstal steel plant, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.
The United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have so far helped nearly 500 civilians flee the area during two operations in the past week. Guterres declined to give details on the new operation “to avoid undermining possible success.
“I hope that the continued coordination with Moscow and Kyiv will lead to more humanitarian pauses to allow civilians safe passage from the fighting and aid to reach those in critical need,” he told the 15-member Security Council. “We must continue to do all we can to get people out of these hellscapes. US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, accused Russia of lying to the Security Council.
“Russia alone started this war and Russia alone can end it. Silence the guns, withdraw from Ukrainian territory, and embrace diplomacy,” she said.
Guterres has also warned that the war in Ukraine was putting even more pressure on the developing world. He told the Security Council he was ready to facilitate talks on “reintegrating Ukraine’s agricultural production and the food and fertilizer production of Russia and Belarus into world markets, despite the war.
Source: Reuters
In other news – Mome Mahlangu sends love to Zola 7
Reality TV star, businesswoman and author Mome Mahlangu penned a sweet tribute to kwaito legend and television presenter Bonginkosi “Zola 7” Dlamini.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, Mahlangu also pleaded with Mzansi to continue to pray for Zola’s full recovery. Learn more
