Doctors Without Borders calls for the rules of war to be observed by all the military fighting in this war in Ukraine – to take all precautions to avoid harming civilians and to consider civilians as civilians at all times and in all places in Ukraine.
Safe passage for those willing and able to escape should be urgently assured in Mariupol and across war affected areas inside Ukraine, regardless of the existence of humanitarian corridors or ceasefires that may temporarily be put in be in place. For those that stay behind, they cannot lose their civilian status; the warring parties must do all in their power to prevent harm to civilians at all times, in all places.
Doctors Without Borders supports any kind of ceasefire initiatives that allows safer passage for those wanting to flee and for medical and other humanitarian assistance to enter, but the right to seek safety and access for humanitarian aid should be an obligation and not a privilege, everywhere in Ukraine.
