Pristina and Belgrade must engage more actively in dialogue facilitated by the European Union (EU), the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) told the Security Council on Wednesday. “While this process has led to meaningful results on various practical matters, a comprehensive normalization of relations between the two sides so far continues to be elusive,” said Caroline Ziadeh in her first biannual address as the UN Special Representative.
“Reconciliation and addressing grievances of the past should reinforce the pursuit of important strategic objectives,” she added.
Acknowledging the ongoing situation in Ukraine and its continued impact on European security and economy, Ms. Ziadeh reiterated that the resilience of democratic institutions throughout the Balkans is a crucial factor in maintaining a secure and democratic Europe.
However, shocks to Kosovo’s economy were building up well before the onset of the conflict, she said, noting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In this context, finding practical modes of economic co-operation between Belgrade, Pristina and all neighbours in the region assumes greater urgency”.
Serbian elections
Her call for cooperation came on the heels of the Serbian general elections.
The UNMIK chief lauded the peaceful logistical exercise – supported by both sides – enabling 19,000 eligible voters to cast their ballots in special polling stations in Serbia.
Regrettably, however, a solution to facilitate voter participation in Kosovo could not be achieved.
Refuse impunity
Following the recent reports of attacks targeting Kosovo Police, Ms. Ziadeh urged collaborative condemnation and swift action to bring perpetrators to justice.
She also encouraged Pristina and Belgrade to seek a permanent solution to the issues regarding vehicle license plates and energy.
During these complex times, the Special Representative called upon leaders to be judicious in their actions and political rhetoric.
UNMIK’s legacy of support
The senior UN official clarified that UNMIK’s role is neither an obstacle nor a vehicle for the outcome preferred by one side or the other side.
Rather, she explained, the Mission continues its legacy of institutional support, working in synergy with the UN family of agencies, funds, and programmes to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Kosovo.
“UNMIK remains the locus of relevant knowledge, experience, and subject area expertise…supporting an active civil society, promoting new tools to help Kosovo reinforce the rule of law, contributing to the empowerment of women and youth, providing expertise and support”.
Photo credit JW.org - Photo: near the building of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. April 2017
JW World Headquarters (20.04.2022) – April 20, 2022 will mark five years since Russia’s Supreme Court criminalized the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses, liquidated some 400 of their legal entities, and confiscated their houses of worship. Russian authorities have since jailed over 320 Witnesses, with over 80 still in prison.
The systematic persecution has escalated over the past year as prison sentences exponentially increased in frequency and in term length. Several Witnesses have also been tortured or severely beaten either while being interrogated or in prison.
Jarrod Lopes, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, states:
“It’s well-documented that Jehovah’s Witnesses endured decades of Soviet persecution. Ignoring this history, Russian authorities have inhumanely beaten, tortured, and imprisoned peaceful Jehovah’s Witnesses in a failed attempt to break their faith and eliminate them. Long after the Soviet regime fell, Jehovah’s Witnesses have continued to thrive and they will likewise outlive the current Russian administration.”
Below are the latest statistics as well as some quotes from international experts that you will find helpful if you chose to report on the anniversary of the ban.
April 20, 2017: Judge Ivanenko of Russia’s Supreme Court announces decision to shut down the legal entities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia and Crimea
2017 Russian Supreme Court Ruling
· The April 20, 2022, Supreme Court ruling, albeit grossly unjust, simply liquidated all of the Witnesses’ legal entities, Local Religious Organizations (LROs), in Russia and Crimea, declaring them “extremist”. During the 2017 Supreme Court hearing, the Russian government claimed that individual Witnesses would be free to practice their faith. However, the government’s claim of allowing freedom to worship has been inconsistent with its actions.
· 1741 homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been raided, almost one per day
o 27 homes raided since February 24th Ukraine invasion
· 620 JWs involved in 289 criminal cases
o This includes 16 JWs in Crimea, 4 of whom are in prison (some after conviction have been transferred to prisons inside of Russia). All have been charged under prevailing Russian law
o Oldest involved in a criminal case is 87.5-year-old Yelena Zayschuk, she is 1 of 6 in their 80’s; there are 34 in their 70’s
· Over 450 added to Russia’s federal Rosfinmonitoring list of extremists and terrorists
o Many are placed on the list even before being criminally charged or tried—see Forum18
Beatings and Torture
For example:
· February 2019, Surgut, seven men tortured—suffocated, stripped naked, doused with water, and given electric shocks to their genitals—Link to confirmed report. Video interviews
· February 2020, Chita, one man beaten, choked, and given electric shocks to his stomach and leg—link to report
· February 2020, Orenburg, five men severely beaten in prison, with one man being hospitalized for broken rib and damaged kidney—link to report
· October 2021, Irkutsk, one man beaten while his wife screamed for them to stop, another was tortured—stripped naked, lifted and suspended off the ground by his arms behind his back, attempted to force a glass bottle in anus area—link to report. Video interviews
As if torturing a man and making him writhe in pain isn’t savage enough, many Russian officers will also resort to inhumanely threatening to have his wife raped.
· Why and how successful is it?
o Most often, Russian law enforcement officers have beaten or tortured Jehovah’s Witnesses to force them to divulge information about fellow believers and or bully them into giving up their faith. The overwhelming majority of men withstood the torture and never complied, even with the smallest demands for information. That’s why in most of the criminal cases, the authorities have resorted to planting a mole to infiltrate the congregation and leak the names, contact information, and worship activities of local Witnesses.
What Experts Are Saying
Natalia Prilutskaya, Russia researcher at Amnesty International, call on Russia to:
“to immediately and unconditionally release all Jehovah’s Witnesses arbitrarily deprived of freedom for their faith and to drop criminal charges against all peaceful believers. Those who have been subjected to criminal prosecution, torture and other ill-treatment, unlawful searchers of their properties, who have lost their jobs, must receive adequate compensation and have their rights restored.”
The world should have started paying more attention to prosecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia already five years ago. Arbitrary prosecution of peaceful believers on spurious charges of “extremism” was and is a litmus test of the lack of freedom in Russia and of the Russian government’s intentions to quash any dissent, anything that they see as a threat to their official narratives. While the world was watching repressions against dissenters being unleashed within Russia, its government was also quietly preparing to promote their world view with tanks and missiles on the territory of the neighboring country, Ukraine. Were there a stronger international reaction to persecutions inside Russia, including to persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the world could have been in a much better place today now. To prevent further escalation, it is important to expose and rigorously respond to human rights violations being committed in Russia. Restoring justice for one of the persecuted communities – Jehovah’s Witnesses – is one of the steps on the long road to restoring human rights and freedom in Russia and ensuring that no more international crisis, like the aggression against Ukraine, could be conceived in the Kremlin.”
Sir Andrew Wood, former British Ambassador to Russia (1995-2000), states:
“It follows that the punishment of peaceful believers on the grounds of their certification as extremists by the Russian Supreme Court in effect by demand of Russia’s current president is arbitrary and unjust. Their arrest, ill treatment, and confinement are a breach of elementary human rights together with the infringement of the freedom of all souls to seek their path to the truths of religion as best they may. The targeting of particularly vulnerable people of whatever gender or age adds to the injustice.”
“The people of Russia and those beyond them share an interest in the country’s future rule under the conditions of natural law. That is essential to its future beneficial evolution. The peaceful pursuit of religion is an essential element of that aspiration, whether in times of war like the present or in less dangerous circumstances. It therefore deserves our support as we hope and work for a better future.”
Dr. Emily Baran, expert on Russia and Soviet history, states:
“The history of Jehovah’s Witnesses, both in Russia and worldwide, makes clear that persecution will not have its intended purpose of eliminating this faith community. What persecution does is isolate Witnesses, subject them to cruel and senseless harassment, violence, and loss of freedom, and make their daily lives full of uncertainty. The Witnesses have demonstrated adaptability before, including in the Soviet period, and will continue to find ways to practice their faith even in these difficult conditions. Russian Witnesses will adapt because they have to, because they feel their faith requires it of them, and because repeated persecution has given them the skills to do so effectively.
More comments by the experts above can be downloaded here.
Russia Exporting Weaponization of Anti-Extremism Legislation
· Russia has been seeking ways to export its anti-extremism legislation, along with how to weaponize it
o May 2020, Putin signed a “Decree of the President of the Russian Federation”—“On Adopting a Strategy to Counteract Extremism in the Russian Federation Until 2025”
§ Section 32 on pg. 16, clearly outlines the President’s goals, in the field of international cooperation:
§ Strengthening the position of the Russian Federation in international organizations whose activity is aimed at counteracting extremism;
§ Promoting in bilateral and multilateral formats Russian initiatives in counteracting extremist activities, including over the Internet;
§ Signing agreements with foreign states aimed at solving problems in the realm of counteracting extremism;
§ Exchanging best practices in counteracting extremism, including cooperating together to develop international legal documents;
o Moscow-based rights advocate Sova Center published a report in 2020 confirming that
“Russian extremist legislation has been and remains the model anti-extremist legislation for Central Asian countries, despite the fact that, in recent years, it has been repeatedly criticized at the international level by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Venice Commission, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance of the Council of Europe, and other structures
MEPs support a common charger for portable electronic devices, reducing e-waste and making the use of different mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras more convenient.
On Wednesday the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee adopted its position on the revised Radio Equipment Directive with 43 votes in favour (2 against).
The new rules would make sure consumers no longer need a new charger and cable every time they purchase a new device, and can use one charger for all of their small and medium-sized electronic gadgets. Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, rechargeable via a wired cable, would have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of the manufacturer. Exemptions would apply only for devices that are too small to have a USB Type-C port, such as smart watches, health trackers, and some sports equipment.
This revision is part of a broader EU effort to address product sustainability, in particular of electronics on the EU market, and to reduce electronic waste.
Clear information on charging
MEPs also want to see clear information and labelling on new devices about charging options, as well as whether a product includes a charger. This would, they say, help to avoid confusion and ease purchasing decisions for consumers that often own several different devices and do not always need additional chargers.
With the growing usage of wireless charging, MEPs want the European Commission to present a strategy by the end of 2026 that allows for minimum interoperability of any new charging solutions. The goal is to avoid a new fragmentation in the market, to continue to reduce environmental waste, ensure consumer convenience and avoid so-called “lock-in” effects created by proprietary charging solutions.
Quote
Rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba (MT, S&D) said: “With half a billion chargers for portable devices shipped in Europe each year, generating 11,000 to 13,000 tonnes of e-waste, a single charger for mobile phones and other small and medium electronic devices would benefit everyone. It will help the environment, further help the re-use of old electronics, save money, and reduce unnecessary costs and inconvenience for both businesses and consumers. We are proposing a truly comprehensive policy intervention, building on the Commission’s proposal by calling for the interoperability of wireless charging technologies by 2026 and improving information given to consumers with dedicated labels. We are also expanding the proposal’s scope by adding more products, such as laptops, that will need to comply with the new rules.”
Next steps
Once Parliament as a whole has approved this draft negotiating position at the May plenary session, MEPs will be ready to start talks with EU governments on the final shape of the legislation.
This year, Orthodox Holy Week is being observed under a “cloud of a war” that totally negates the Easter message of unity, the UN chief said on Tuesday, calling for a four-day humanitarian pause in Ukraine.
In five days, Ukrainians and Russians will mark Easter, a holiday that joins in celebration the Orthodox Christians in both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Catholic Ukrainians.
“Easter is a season for renewal, resurrection and hope. It is a time for reflection on the meaning of suffering, sacrifice, death – and rebirth. It is meant to be a moment of unity,” Secretary-General António Guterres told journalist, speaking in front of the Non-Violence bronze sculpture at UN Headquarters in New York.
I urge all parties – and all champions of peace around the world — to join my Easter appeal.
Save lives.
Stop the bloodshed and destruction. Open a window for dialogue and peace.
An intense concentration of forces and firepower continue to make the battle more violent, bloody and destructive, the top UN official lamented.
Moreover, the onslaught and terrible toll on civilians seen so far “could pale in comparison to the horror that lies ahead.”
“This cannot be allowed to happen. Hundreds of thousands of lives hang in the balance,” he underscored.
Holy Week pause
Against the backdrop of many failed “good-faith efforts” by numerous parties to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Secretary-General called for a four-day Holy Week humanitarian pause beginning on Holy Thursday and running through Easter Sunday, 24 April, to allow for a series of humanitarian corridors to open.
He explained that a humanitarian pause would provide the necessary conditions to meet two crucial imperatives, beginning with safe passage of all civilians willing to leave the areas of current and expected confrontation.
This would be done in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Secondly, beyond humanitarian operations already taking place, a pause would allow for the safe delivery of lifesaving humanitarian aid to people in the hardest-hit areas such as Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.
“The United Nations is ready to send humanitarian aid convoys during this period to these locations,” he assured. “We are submitting detailed plans to the parties”.
Dire needs
The UN chief painted a heartbreaking picture of people without food, water, supplies to treat the sick and wounded, or simply to live day-to-day.
“More than 12 million people need humanitarian assistance in Ukraine today,” he said, with over one-third located in Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.
“We anticipate that this figure will increase to 15.7 million – that’s about 40 per cent of all Ukrainians still left in the country”.
‘Life-or-death reasons’
There is “a measure of progress to build upon,” the UN chief said, noting that over the past seven weeks, some 2.5 million people have been provided with assistance, including many in the east.
“For all these life-or-death reasons, I call on Russians and Ukrainians to silence the guns and forge a path to safety for so many at immediate risk,” he appealed.
Stop the bloodshed and destruction – UN chief
“The four-day Easter period should be a moment to unite around saving lives and furthering dialogue to end the suffering in Ukraine”.
Keep the faith
Mr. Guterres explained that earlier in the day, Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefed the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations – including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish leaders.
The Secretary-General welcomed their support and “inspired by Holy Week and all that it represents”, urged all parties and all champions of peace around the world to join his Easter appeal.
“Save lives. Stop the bloodshed and destruction. Open a window for dialogue and peace. Keep faith with the meaning and the message of Easter,” he concluded.
Leaders from Canada, the United States, Japan and Europe hold a teleconference on the war in Ukraine
Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Japan, the European Commission, the European Council, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to discuss collective efforts to date, assess the current situation on the ground in Ukraine, and discuss critical actions allies must undertake to effectively support Ukraine.
The leaders denounced Russia’s war crimes and brutality in Ukraine and promised to hold Russia accountable for its actions, including through the International Criminal Court. They emphasized the importance of allies maintaining the strong, united stand they have taken in support of Ukraine. The leaders also expressed their collective commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The Prime Minister and leaders recognized that it is crucial to maintain financial support to Ukraine in a way that meets its critical needs and adapts quickly to changing circumstances in the country, particularly with regard to food security and humanitarian assistance.
Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized the strength and unity of the NATO Alliance. The leaders agreed to a common approach in supporting Ukraine as it enters the next phase of the war and agreed to continue coordinating closely.
Former Scotland rugby player Ali McGrandles has been named Chieftain of this year’s Stirling Highland Games.
Stirling-born Ali was a pioneer of women’s rugby in Scotland beginning her career at Stirling County aged just eight and going on to notch up 50 international caps.
Ali, who played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 Rugby World Cups, is thrilled to be taking on the role of Chieftain at the Highland Games on Saturday August 20.
It will be the first in-person event since 2019 and the packed schedule includes traditional and adaptive heavyweight competitions, a Tug of War, highland dancing and a food and drink experience.
Ali said: “I was absolutely over the moon to hear the Committee had selected me for Chieftain, it is such an accolade and a wonderful opportunity to go back to where everything started for me.
“As someone who was born and brought up in Stirling and still has strong links to the area, to have the chance to be Chieftain and host the Games is just thrilling and I am proud and honoured to be given the role.
“And as a PE teacher and someone who has been involved in sport from an early age, it’s fantastic to be overseeing all the sporting activities which will be going on.”
Ali excelled in sport as a youngster playing both rugby and hockey.
She went on to play rugby at university and was selected for Scotland’s first ever women’s international match against Ireland in 1993.
Ali had a long career in international women’s rugby before retiring in 2002 and is still involved in the sport coaching a rugby team at the London school where she works as an assistant headteacher.
She also has a long association with the Highland Games community attending various events as a child and helping behind the scenes at Stirling Highland Games in more recent years.
The honorary role of Games Chieftain is chosen by the Stirling Highland Games committee from a list of famous sons and daughters of the city who stand out in their respective discipline.
Cat Cripps, the Chieftains Gathering Convenor, said: “Every year the committee looks at the talents and achievements of the sons and daughters of Stirling and how they have excelled in their field.
“Ali has a fantastic pedigree in her sport and we are delighted to announce she will be the 2022 Stirling Highland Games Chieftain.
“She will be a brilliant host on the day which will be extra special this year as we all look forward to returning to the live event.”
Last year, organisers showcased a series of online events to keep the spirit of Stirling Highland Games alive.
Now fans from across the world are ready to return to the Games field, at Stirling Sports Village, in person.
The Games runs from 10.30am until 5pm and tickets can be bought in advance now or on the day.
Spectators can enjoy a full day of events including watching heavyweight competitors take part in hammer throwing, shot put and tossing the caber plus track and field athletics.
They can also see the gruelling Bruce Challenge, unique to the Stirling Games, which sees strongmen carrying two boulders weighing over 164kg as far as they can and an adaptive heavyweight competition featuring the Wounded Highlanders.
Meanwhile, the unique food and drink experience will highlight award-winning Scottish produce and there will be on-site heritage tours.
The 2022 Highland Games is sponsored and grant-funded by a variety of organisations including Active Stirling, EventScotland, Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, Specsavers Stirling and the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Ceangail, on Wednesday 20 April, 2022. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
As five million people have already fled Ukraine and another seven million are displaced internally, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements urged the Security Council on Tuesday to ‘put aside’ its divisions and find a way to end the “horrific and senseless war”, now in its eighth week. Speaking from Hungary, where almost half a million Ukrainians have sought safety, she updated that neighbouring countries are including refugees in national education, health and social programmes.
“While the sheer scale and speed of displacement is immense, we must not lose sight of what these figures mean.”
Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees @KellyTClements briefing the UN Security Council on Ukraine from Hungary, spelling out the impact of the war on ordinary people. pic.twitter.com/U9irg7hNtx
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) April 19, 2022
“This inclusive approach is – bar none – the best way for refugees to sustain their lives in exile, and it requires more international support”.
The UN also estimates that 13 million more are in the hardest hit areas, many unable to move and difficult to safely reach with aid.
“No pile of blankets, no sum of cash, no amount of medicine, is going to halt the death and destruction,” the Deputy High Commissioner emphasized. “While we will continue our job to deliver aid, we need this Council to do its job too.”
Noting that she had just returned from the Czech Republic and Austria, where she described the compassion and solidarity as being unprecedented, Ms. Clements said her visit, which will continue to Slovakia, complements those of High Commissioner Filippo Grandi, including to Ukraine, and Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou – who is currently visiting Moldova and Romania.
While the scale and speed of displacement is immense, she urged the Council not to lose sight of what these figures mean.
Ms. Clements shared the story of a 25-year-old woman from Odessa – whom she met in Prague – that was compelled to leave her family behind in Ukraine.
“Each one of the millions displaced are forced to make impossible, heart-breaking decisions,” she said.
Inspiring responses
The senior UN official also recounted “consistently remarkable” acts of humanity that have been seen in messages of support plastered on apartments, windows, and streetlamps as well as individuals rallying to provide what they can.
Moreover, concerned States have kept their borders open, providing protection to those seeking safety and aid.
“We call on that to continue in a non-discriminatory manner for all people in need,” she stated.
These inspiring responses are only surpassed by the strength and composure of refuges themselves, who continue to exude courage and resilience, Ms. Clements pointed out.
A young Ukrainian refugee uses Google translate, Poland.
Trapped inside
“We will continue to expand our lifesaving aid to the internally displaced throughout Ukraine,” Ms. Clements affirmed, especially in the centre and the east – where a brutal humanitarian nightmare is unfolding.
This requires not just resources, but also safe and unhindered access to people in need, she said.
Heightened risks of trafficking
Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Antonio Vitorino warned that the increased targeting of cities will lead to more civilian casualties and displacement, both internal and external.
I just briefed the UN Security Council on the needs of internally displaced persons, those forced to flee their homes to neighboring countries, and all populations affected by the war in #Ukraine.
He called on parties to the conflict to uphold their international law obligations to protect noncombatants, their homes and civilian infrastructure.
Highlighting several specific risks faced by internally displaced people, refugees and third-country nationals, Mr. Vitorino warned that in situations of mass displacement, up to 30 per cent of the population will experience some form of negative psychological impact.
He voiced particular concern over the women and children who have fled or been displaced.
Human trafficking was a known phenomenon in the region and past crises have demonstrated that large-scale displacement, family separation and disruption of civil protection and community networks render these individuals vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse.
The IOM chief urged all neighbouring and impacted countries to ensure the immediate identification and registration of unaccompanied and separated children fleeing from Ukraine.
Understanding refugees needs
Moving forward, Mr. Vitorino called for a better understanding of the intentions of those fleeing; people forced to leave their homes; and individuals who have been separated from their families due to the conflict.
IOM will continue, through its teams on the ground, to collect and disseminate information critical to this effort, targeting actions to improve the well-being of all those affected by the war.
“As more people are likely to be displaced, it is crucial to plan ahead and ensure that all those fleeing the war have access to adequate support and services,” stressed the Director-General.
The United Nations continues to provide assistance inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries to people displaced by the ongoing conflict “On the morning of the invasion I left my apartment and spent almost a month in a basement on the outskirts of Mariupol, until I escaped on 23 March.
The first few days felt like a weird slumber party, just getting together with friends. We had everything we needed…until we didn’t.
First the electricity went, when Russia bombed the city’s electrical system.
Laptops and cell phones began to run out of battery.
Then the Russians targeted the water system. We filled up all the buckets we possibly
could while the taps were still running, but we quickly realized that a lack of drinking water would be a huge problem.
And then we heard a large blast, and the gas went out, which meant gathering and chopping wood, and cooking on open fires outside the basement entrance.
By the end of the second week, we heard continuous shelling approaching from the northern part of the city, targeting residential districts near us. Two missiles hit a nine-storey building on the other side of the road, right across from our basement. We saw the fourth floor engulfed in flames and people jumping to their deaths.
Whenever a missile landed close by, it felt like it was going straight through us. We would feel the shockwaves; the cracks in the basement wall and floor would widen with every single hit, and we would wonder if the foundations of the building could take it.
Early in the invasion, a communication station behind one of the residential high-rises was targeted by the Russians.
I knew why it was being done: To leave us completely helpless and hopeless, demoralized, and cut off from the outside world.
I lost contact with my father. He was on the other side of the city and I was not sure if I would ever see him again. I only hoped that he would walk over to us, since he knew the address, but he never did. I still don’t know if he’s alive. I don’t know if he was taken to Russia by force.
Rumours began spreading about how the city had fallen, how it was now Russian territory. We heard horrific stories of Chechens roaming the streets, raping women, killing civilians at point blank range, and how dangerous it was to even try to leave because of active fighting on all three sides of the city.
So, no one dared to escape. Because of the lack of communication with the outside world, it felt as if there was a huge mass murder taking place right around me, and that the world had no idea, and would never find out the true scale of what was happening.
I had two main fears. One was rape – which is used as a weapon of war by the Russian military, and we all knew this – and the second one was being either taken to Russia by force or to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.
I also worried about Mariupol being proclaimed as part of the Donetsk People’s Republic – barring any hope of my leaving.
I just kept thinking, will they let us out? Is there a way out?
An opportunity to escape
Anyone who didn’t get out in the first three or four days, was unable to leave afterwards, because of active fighting and Russian forces approaching the city from all three sides.
Those who tried to flee found themselves in a battlefield – Resident of Mariupol
All we could do was wait for a possible corridor to open up. Around the second week of the war, a rumour spread on a Russian Telegram [social media platform] channel, that an organized column was gathering at the theatre, heading west towards Manhush.
Everyone who had a vehicle and enough fuel, put some white pieces of cloth on their side mirrors to signify that they were civilians trying to flee, and went to the collection point.
But there was nothing. It turned out to be a false rumour.
By 20 March, the Russians has completely taken over the strip of land by the Azov Sea, from Berdyansk and Manhush, all the way to the outskirts of Mariupol.
Three days later we decided to leave despite reports of civilians being targeted, as the city was being under siege by carpet and precision bombings.
I saw with my own eyes how they aimed at apartment buildings, as if they were playing a computer game.
We were running out of food and water. I hadn’t had a shower for a month.
At 7:00 AM on the morning of 23 March, we started out for Zaporizhzhia. After 16 Russian checkpoints, a trip that usually took three hours cost us more than 14.
The drive itself was horrific. The Russian military strip-searched us, checking documents and detaining every male. But once we reached the Ukrainian checkpoint near the entry to Zaporizhzhia, we heard the Ukrainian language.
It felt like we had made it, like we were relatively safe.
Despite feeling as though I was getting out of this black hole of destruction and death, Zaporizhzhia itself wasn’t safe; there were constant air raids.
But we had made it out of Mariupol and couldn’t believe we were alive.
Figures from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) show more than 4000 casualties from the war in Ukraine so far. Yet, as the OHCHR acknowledges, the actual number is likely to be far higher given that it is difficult to access accurate information from areas where intense hostilities are ongoing, and that other reports are awaiting corroboration.
Ensuring hospitals are prepared for sudden increases in casualties during this emergency is therefore crucial. A big part of this entails fully training health professionals in these institutions not just in the theory but, more importantly, in the practice of organizing and mobilizing resources to deal with these crises effectively.
Recently, WHO at the request of the Moldovan Ministry of Health organized a 3-day course on mass casualty management (MCM), developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. A total of 32 surgeons, traumatologists and facility managers from 13 hospitals benefitted from the training.
The Republic of Moldova, a neighbouring country to Ukraine, has already seen 400 000 refugees cross its border for protection. Preparing its health professionals for a potential surge in war casualties has been a key consideration.
And as Ion Chesov, Head of the Integrated Services Department at the Ministry of Health, stressed, the benefits of this training go well beyond the current emergency: “We need to ensure the health system as a whole and the facilities in particular are prepared to face any emergency or unexpected disaster. Knowledge in basic and advanced trauma life support are crucial and form the foundation of medical skills in medical doctors.”
Training in Ukraine
This month, WHO also began rolling out the course in Ukraine. The first participants were staff of an ambulance substation in the Lviv region. Training paramedics in this way will allow them to provide appropriate assistance to victims even before they have reached hospitals. WHO has engaged Ukrainian emergency physicians to deliver the training, and is planning to deliver more sessions across the country.
Speaking about the course, Johan von Schreeb, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator in Ukraine, commented: “In the country today, this type of training, unfortunately, is very much needed. We see a lot of mass casualty situations where many people have been injured simultaneously. That is very challenging for the health system and for the staff who have to make rapid, critical decisions for prioritizing the evacuation of the injured. Practising the triage of patients is a very useful exercise, and we need to do more of it. We can’t simply do it using presentations. You have to be exposed to the stress, the decision-making, the organization and the chaos, and we try to simulate that as much as possible through the training.”
About the course
The MCM course was developed in collaboration with WHO’s Emergency Medical Team, the Karolinska Institutet (a WHO collaborating centre) and the WHO Academy. The course developers recognized that mass casualties following disasters and significant incidents, often characterized by large numbers of severe and diverse injuries, can rapidly overwhelm the ability of health facilities to deliver adequate medical care.
The training addresses the organization and actions of staff working in emergency units, with a focus on the first 30 minutes after the announcement of a mass casualty incident. Taking a practical, hands-on approach, the training focuses on stabilizing injured patients and carrying out triage, as well as working as a team, acquiring new skills and changing ways of working. In addition, specific MCM trainings are provided to emergency staff working in hospitals.
The annual dialogue on the rule of law must not duck tough questions on adherence to European values, progressive ministers cautioned today as they met in Luxembourg to exchange on key issues facing Europe ahead of the General Affairs Council (GAC).
Ministers from Finland, Denmark, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain took part in the PES meeting, reiterating their condemnation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calling on all EU member states to uphold fundamental European values.
Today, the GAC will hold the annual dialogue on the rule of law. Fundamental rights in five member states will be discussed: Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands and Austria. Last week, the EU Commission announced that it will trigger the rule of law conditionality mechanism against Hungary for failing to act on corruption. Progressives have issued consistent warnings about the actions of the Hungarian government when it comes to the rule of law.
PES GAC Chair, Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Tytti Tuppurainen, said:
“There are widespread fears that our union of values is being actively undermined in parts of Europe. Today’s dialogue is an important moment for the EU to take stock of developments.
“Fundamental beliefs such as rights for the LGBTQ+ community, women, and migrants, as well as judicial independence and media freedom, must be respected by all. Socialists and democrats have warned time and time again about violations of these standards. European values must apply to all European citizens, regardless of their member state. We will keep fighting to defend this principle.
“The rule of law is not simply a question of idealistic principles but has also concrete effects. It is about resilience, it is about the smooth functioning of the internal market, and it is about safeguarding mutual trust.”
Alongside the Annual Rule of Law dialogue, ministers discussed Europe’s response to the Ukraine crisis. They voiced their dismay at the continued barbarity of the Russian invasion and expressed full support for Ukraine. The meeting commended European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson for her swift action to support refugees, the majority of which are women and children. This includes the activation of the Temporary Protection Mechanism and actions to prevent human trafficking.
Following the invasion, the meeting also reaffirmed the need for Europe to secure energy independence. Ministers welcomed the REPowerEU proposal put forward by European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans. This plan will reposition the EU to fight the energy crisis and reduce reliance on Russian gas, while also accelerating progress towards the goals of the European Green Deal.
On the Conference on the Future of Europe, ministers urged the Conference to ensure that the exercise is democratic, meaningful, and genuinely reflects the views of European citizens.
The meeting was attended by:
Tytti Tuppurainen, Chair, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Finland
Jeppe Kofod, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark
Vincenzo Amendola, Undersecretary of State, delegated to European Affairs, Italy
Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Malta
Tiago Antunes, Secretary of State for the European Union, Portugal
Pascual Navarro, Secretary of State for the European Union, Spain
