DONETSK (Rostov region), August 16 (RIA Novosti) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has sent a request to Kiev, asking to recognize the Russian convoy which is currently on the border with Ukraine, as humanitarian mission, no reply has been received yet, ICRC representative said.
“The timing is that - we have sent the paper to Kiev formally requesting that this convoy can be processed; waiting for the answer to this request; and then the key element in order to move quickly is security,” the head of the ICRC’s regional delegation Pascal Cuttat said Saturday.
He stressed that the procedures on cars inspection are now clear, as well as all the clearance procedures and paperwork.
“The procedures with which this cargo will be inspected here at the border before anything can cross have been agreed upon,” Cuttat said, adding that the inspection was agreed to take place on the Russian side of the border.
He also noted that the ICRC needs to have security guarantees from both sides of the Ukrainian conflict, “in order to be able to move safely.”
Earlier this week, Russia sent a humanitarian convoy to Ukraine of 280 trucks carrying about 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid, with 400 tons of grain, 100 tons of sugar, 62 tons of baby food, 54 tons of medication, 12,000 sleeping bags and 69 mobile electrical generators.
Russia proposed sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine’s eastern regions under the auspice of the ICRC last week. A number of Western countries, including the United States, Britain and Germany, called the initiative into question, saying the aid would be "unjustified and illegal" unless Russia secures Kiev’s consent.
