Swiss OSCE Chairperson-in-Office acknowledges humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, calls for co-operative measures

BERN, 8 August 2014 - OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, welcomed today’s announcement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that it would step up activities for the affected population in deteriorating humanitarian and security environments and deploy additional teams.

In a telephone conversation with ICRC president Peter Maurer, Burkhalter underlined that the OSCE, while not being a humanitarian organization, is willing to support and facilitate humanitarian efforts by Ukraine, the ICRC and other humanitarian agencies to the extent possible. Fully acknowledging the ICRC’s insistence that additional aid in conflict zones would imply the involvement, endorsement, and support of all parties concerned, Burkhalter said that the OSCE would only consider engaging in humanitarian assistance activities that take place with the consent of the Ukrainian government. He added that the Special Monitoring Mission is actively monitoring and registering humanitarian aspects of the crisis with a particular focus on the basic needs of persons in places affected by fighting, internally displaced persons, vulnerable groups (including minorities, women and children) and civilian victims.

While much assistance is already underway to address humanitarian needs, co-operative measures remain imperative to make sure that sufficient help reaches those who need it most in current conflict areas, Burkhalter concluded.