UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Thursday condemned what it called a “particularly troubling” wave of attacks in Ukraine against first responders who rush to the scene of air strikes, only to be attacked themselves.
In these second wave strikes, those wounded in the first strike are killed and first responders are killed or injured, UN official Edem Wosornu told the Security Council, speaking on behalf of humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths.
“This clearly compounds the suffering of the wounded and incapacitates first responders,” she said.
“Attacks directed against the wounded and those helping them are prohibited by international humanitarian law. They are cruel, unconscionable, and must stop.”
In recent weeks, Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of carrying out such attacks — bombing a location, and then hitting it again once emergency personnel are on site.
“Ukraine is currently enduring some of the worst attacks since the start of this war,” Wosornu said.
“Not a day passes without air strikes shattering the lives of yet more families across the country.”
For Miroslaw Jenca, UN assistant secretary-general for Europe, “the current trajectory of escalation of this war is a direct threat to regional stability and international security.”
“Most of all, it is an existential threat to the people of Ukraine,” Jenca said, making specific reference to attacks on Ukraine’s energy installations.
UN slams ‘cruel’ second-wave attacks in Ukraine
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UN slams ‘cruel’ second-wave attacks in Ukraine
- In these second wave strikes, those wounded in the first strike are killed and first responders are killed or injured, UN official Edem Wosornu told the Security Council
- “Ukraine is currently enduring some of the worst attacks since the start of this war“
Pro-Palestinian activists stopped from disrupting Milan Cortina Olympics torch relay
- A third group of about 10 people that was monitored by police waved Palestinian flags when the relay passed by the city’s biggest university, La Sapienza
ROME: Two groups of pro-Palestinian activists were prevented by authorities from coming into contact with the opening stages of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics torch relay, Italian police said on Saturday.
Both groups — one of them with about 15 people — were removed before they reached the relay route in Rome, police said.
A third group of about 10 people that was monitored by police waved Palestinian flags when the relay passed by the city’s biggest university, La Sapienza.
There were also three people carrying signs in support of Venezuela near the American embassy.
In October, more than two million demonstrators marched through more than 100 Italian cities to protest the war in Gaza.
Olympic champion swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri began the relay in the statue-lined Stadio dei Marmi and the torch was carried for 33 kilometers (20 miles) before ending the day in Piazza del Popolo.
The relay will cover 12,000 kilometers (nearly 7,500 miles) and wind its way through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on Feb. 6.
In all, there will be 10,001 torch bearers.
The next stops on the torch relay are Viterbo on Sunday and Terni on Monday.
