France has started sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. A first convoy left at the start of the Russian offensive, on February 24, announced to the World, Saturday, February 26, the head of the crisis center in Paris, Stéphane Romatet. This involves 40 tons of equipment to accommodate the displaced (shelters, sanisettes, hygiene structures, etc.). The convoy, on its way, is currently in Germany.
A second is being prepared, which will carry emergency medical aid to treat around 500 seriously injured people. He will leave “as soon as the logistics are ready”, says Mr. Romatet. A third French humanitarian convoy is on its way to Moldova, at the request of the Moldovan authorities, faced with the influx of Ukrainian refugees. It carries 30 to 40 tons of equipment for emergency shelters.
However, the delivery of humanitarian aid promises to be difficult. “The Ukrainians are very demanding, but we are studying how to physically deliver the goods”, says Mr. Romatet. Civilian trucks, which transport equipment, are not allowed to enter Ukraine, which has become a war zone. They will stop at the border, where Ukrainian relays must recover them, but the very unstable situation prevents them from moving for the time being.
A thousand French people stranded in Ukraine
French humanitarian aid is sent at the request of Ukraine, which has activated the “European Civil Protection Mechanism”, a procedure allowing solidarity to be called upon within the European Union in the humanitarian field. Other countries have also responded to this request. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday: “Humanitarian needs are multiplying and expanding hour by hour”.
In Paris, the Crisis Center also ensures that the French who have remained in Ukraine are safe. A thousand of them are still in the country today. They were 1,200 before the Russian offensive, but several hundred have come forward since the beginning of hostilities. “We realize that there are many more French people than those who are registered at the consulate”observes Mr. Romatet.
The evacuation of the French is however ” impossible “ currently, says the director of the crisis center. “We cannot schedule such an operation as long as there is no ceasefire. Fighting is going on, that would expose them. » Some of these French people, very worried about the advance of Russian troops, find it hard to understand that France cannot help them immediately. ” It’s difficult. Some hear the shots, the bombardments. They would like to be evacuated as soon as possible. » Failing to be able to get them out of the country, a psychological unit has been set up. “When we feel a fragility, we give them the contact details. »
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