In five days, Ukrainians and Russians will mark Easter, a combined holiday that celebrates Orthodox Christians in both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Catholics in Ukraine.
“Easter is a season of renewal, resurrection and hope. It’s a time to reflect on the meaning of suffering, sacrifice, death – and rebirth. It means a moment of unity,” Secretary General António Guterres speak to the journalist, speak first No violence Bronze sculpture at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Instead of celebrating new life, this Easter coincides with the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine“.
Concentrated shelling
The top UN official lamented.
Furthermore, the onslaught and the horrific damage to civilians so far “may pale in comparison to the horrors ahead.”
“This must not be allowed to happen. He stressed, hundreds of thousands of lives are hanging in the balance.
Holy Week pause
In the wake of the failed “goodwill efforts” of many parties to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Secretary-General has called for a four-day humanitarian pause during Holy Week commencing on Holy Thursday and extending until Easter Sunday, April 24, to allow a series of humanitarian corridors to open.
He explained that A humanitarian pause would provide the necessary conditions to meet two important requirements, starting with the safe movement of all civilians willing to leave current and projected areas of confrontation..
This will be done in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Second, in addition to the humanitarian operations already taking place, the pause will allow the safe delivery of life-saving 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 time to these locations,” he said. “We are submitting detailed plans to the parties.”
Dire’s Needs
The head of the United Nations painted a heartbreaking picture of people without food, water, supplies to treat the sick and wounded, or simply to get by.
“More than 12 million people need humanitarian assistance in Ukraine today“With more than a third located in Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk,” he said.
“We predict that this number will increase to 15.7 million – that is, about 40% of the total number of Ukrainians still in the country.”
‘Reason for life and death’
“It is necessary to develop a measure of progress, noting that in the past seven weeks, about 2.5 million people have been supported, many of them in the east,” the UN chief said.
“For all these life-and-death reasons, I urge the Russians and Ukrainians to be silent about the guns and create a path to the safety of so many people at risk.“He appealed.
Stop the bloodshed and destruction – UN chief
“The four-day period of Easter should be a time to unite around saving lives and fostering further dialogue to end suffering in Ukraine.”
Keep the faith
Mr. Guterres explained that earlier in the day, Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefed the Council of Churches and Religious Organizations of Ukraine – consisting of Orthodox, Catholic, Christian, and Christian leaders. Protestant, Muslim and Jewish.
The Secretary-General welcomed their support and was “inspired by Holy Week and all it stands for”, calling on all parties and all peace fighters around the world to join join his Easter call.
“Save lives. Stop bloodshed and destruction. Open a window for dialogue and peace. Keep your faith in the meaning and message of Easter‘ he concluded.
