War in Ukraine: the inhabitants of the besieged Mariupol begin to fight for food, warns the Red Cross

On Mariupola city surrounded by rural troops, in the southeast of Ukraine“people have started fighting over food,” according to a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“All the shops and pharmacies were looted four or five days ago. Some people still have food, but I don’t know how long it will last.”stated Sasha Volkov, from Mariupolin an audio recording sent to the media.

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“Many do not have water to drink (…). Many people say they don’t have food for the children either.”he continued.

Besieged for several days by Russian troops, the inhabitants of this port city are deprived of electricity, water and gas. Attempts to evacuate hundreds of thousands of civilians have repeatedly failed, with both sides blaming each other.

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Three people, including a girl, were killed in the Russian bombing of a pediatric hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday, the City Council announced Thursday.

Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have branded it a “war crime”, while Russia has claimed that the building housed Ukrainian ultra-nationalist fighters.

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“People started fighting over food. Others wrecked someone else’s car to get gas.”Volkov pointed out.

According to this worker, a black market has emerged, where it is possible to find vegetables but not meat.

In addition, he explains that people have nowhere to go and often remain confined.

ICRC representatives present at Mariupol they were able to visit their destroyed or damaged houses to recover food for a few days.

“Many of us have started to get sick due to the cold and humidityVolkov pointed out.

About 65 people are hiding in the building where it is located: “The basement shelter is reserved for children and their mothers, while the rest of the adults and those over twelve years of age sleep in the office.”

Taking this strategic city would allow establishing territorial continuity between the Russian forces from Crimea annexed by Moscow and the separatist and Russian troops from Donbass (east).

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Source: Elcomercio

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