As the battle moves into a potentially more deadly phase, a large number of citizens attempt to flee the country in search of safety and shelter; humanitarian measures must be taken to reduce civilian casualties
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Humanitarian Corridors are demilitarized zones in a certain region and for a specific period of time that are agreed upon by both parties in an armed conflict. Humanitarian corridors are one of several possible forms of a temporary pause of armed conflict.
What are their functions? Food and medical aid can be delivered to conflict zones through these routes, and populations can be evacuated. Corridors are critical when cities are under attack and the populace is cut off from necessary food, electricity, and water.
Who sets them up? Humanitarian corridors are usually negotiated by the United Nations. Sometimes they’re also set up by local groups.
UN observers, NGOs, and media can use them to get access to contested areas where war crimes are taking place. There is, however, the possibility of military or political abuse. The passageways can, for example, be used to carry weapons and fuel into besieged cities.
Who gets access? Access to humanitarian corridors is determined by the parties to the conflict. It is mainly restricted to neutral actors, such as the United Nations or assistance organizations like the Red Cross.
- They also establish the amount of time, the region, and which modes of transportation are permitted to utilise the corridor – trucks, buses, or planes.
- In rare cases, humanitarian corridors are only organized by one of the parties to the conflict.
Humanitarian corridors were designated in armed conflicts long before international organizations acknowledged them, especially during World War II when Jewish children were evacuated from Nazi-controlled areas to the United Kingdom. Humanitarian corridors have been utilized extensively in conflicts such as the Syrian civil war, the Libyan civil war, and the Gaza war, to name a few.
As the battle between Russia and Ukraine moves into a potentially more deadly phase, a large number of citizens attempt to flee the country in search of safety and shelter. However, Ukraine rejects humanitarian corridors that lead to Russia, Belarus.
Source: IE