Hunger is forcing people out of their homes, and the roads are mined: residents of Oleshky are leaving without evacuation

A shortage of food, drinking water and medicine is forcing residents of the temporarily occupied Oleshky in Kherson region to leave the city on their own. According to the words of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, dozens of people are already forced to make their way out without an organized evacuation, which remains unavailable.

City residents set off on foot or use bicycles and mopeds. They leave their homes to find food and essential items for themselves and their relatives. However, there is no full transport connection, nor are there safe routes: on the way out of the city people risk detonating landmines.

Dmytro Lubinets described the situation of civilians with these words:

“The choice that Russia leaves civilians with every day: stay — and die of hunger; leave — and risk being blown up on a mine.”

The ombudsperson called this situation a violation of international humanitarian law. He recalled that the European Union has already called to ensure humanitarian access to Oleshky and to give civilians the opportunity to leave safely.

Lubinets himself previously appealed regarding the evacuation of residents to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN. According to him, agreements were reached, but they have still not been able to organize a safe evacuation of people.

Humanitarian problems in the city have been ongoing for a long time. As early as April the Ukrainian ombudsperson reported a critical shortage of drinking water, power outages and limited medical assistance.

Earlier we wrote:

• EU calls for humanitarian aid to be allowed into occupied Oleshky
• Grass instead of food: people in occupied Oleshky are starving
• Occupied Oleshky: evacuation lists formed and authorities are deciding on opening a route
• Humanitarian catastrophe: water is running out in Oleshky and people are dying every day
• In basements without food and water: near Oleshky and in the city itself 6,000 Ukrainians await rescue