Ukrainian civilians evacuated from 'hell' to safety: audio report

A group of 101 evacuees from the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol were successfully brought to safety in Zaporizhzhia, a city in the east of the country, earlier this week.

Evacuees from Russian-occupied areas in southern Ukraine

Photo: EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY

There are more civilians left behind amid Russia's onslaught, which means that, despite the hazards, similar operations should be planned for the near future.

Good news!

Civilians evacuated from Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol have reached to safety in Zaporizhzhia, thanks to @UN & @ICRC joint efforts.
We'll continue to engage parties to the conflict & do all we can to support safe passage for civilians trapped in war-impacted areas. pic.twitter.com/9d3NuHORzN

— OCHA Ukraine (@OCHA_Ukraine) May 3, 2022

“I'm relieved to confirm that the safe passage operation from Mariupol has been successful," Osnat Lubrani, the United Nations' top aid official in Ukraine, announced on Tuesday.

“The people I travelled with told me heartbreaking stories of the hell they went through,” she tweeted.

I'm relieved to confirm that the safe passage operation from Mariupol has been successful.
The people I travelled with told me heartbreaking stories of the hell they went through.

I'm thinking about the people who remain trapped. We will do all we can to assist them. pic.twitter.com/mEqTTKZKA8

— Osnat Lubrani (@OsnatLubrani) May 3, 2022

Lubrani said that a total of 101 civilians had been evacuated from the steel plant and other areas in Mariupol in an operation that began last Friday and was coordinated by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in line with commitments made following the UN chief's recent visits to Moscow and Kyiv.

"I want the Ukrainian people to know that the world sees you, hears you, and is in awe of your resilience and resolve," said @antonioguterres in #Kyiv. @UN in #Ukraine focuses on expanding support for the people, saving lives & reducing suffering.
Watch:https://t.co/7sklcf708X pic.twitter.com/pksVPv3wQu

— OCHA Ukraine (@OCHA_Ukraine) April 29, 2022

Huge thanks to @UNOCHA & @ICRC teams who worked tirelessly to ensure the safe passage operation from Mariupol.

We will continue advocating for more evacuation convoys. Together, we will do all we can to save lives. pic.twitter.com/GLMEmnAOFf

— Osnat Lubrani (@OsnatLubrani) May 3, 2022

More on this from our Ukrainian correspondent Halyna Pastushuk, who is temporarily based in Poland.

Click on the audio player above to listen.