The UN Humanitarian Coordinator within the nation, Matthias Schmale, strongly condemned the assault.
“Immediately, an inter-agency convoy of 4 humanitarian vans, clearly marked as belonging to the UN, carrying assist, got here underneath assault by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation when delivering assist to Bilozerka City within the Kherson Area,” he mentioned in an announcement.
‘Intensive artillery fireplace’
Help staff from the UN Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Well being Group (WHO) had been on a mission to a group that had not obtained help for months.
“When the help staff had been on web site, intensive artillery fireplace began, and later, throughout offloading, two clearly marked vans of the World Meals Programme (WFP) had been focused by first-person-view drones,” he mentioned.
“Fortuitously, the humanitarian staff weren’t injured, however two vans had been broken and set on fireplace.”
Not a goal
The convoy was carrying hygiene kits, medicines and shelter supplies, OCHA’s high Ukraine official Andrea de Domenico mentioned in a video posted on social media.
It confirmed one of many broken WFP vans in conjunction with a highway, with flames and black smoke billowing from the highest.
“It’s tremendous essential to (remind) all of the events that humanitarian help must be facilitated and humanitarians must be protected,” he mentioned.
Mr. Schmale famous that “intentionally focusing on humanitarians and humanitarian property is a gross violation of worldwide humanitarian legislation and may quantity to a battle crime.”
He added that “the Kherson Area has additionally seen a rise in drone assaults, harming civilians”, which should cease.
“All measures must be taken to guard civilians and humanitarian staff. Worldwide humanitarian legislation should be revered,” he mentioned.
UN human rights screens not too long ago reported that no less than 214 civilians had been killed and virtually 1,000 injured in Ukraine throughout September.
Almost 70 per cent of casualties occurred close to the frontline, with notably excessive numbers reported within the Donetsk and Kherson areas.
