Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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248. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to ensure a safe evacuation for civilians in relation to the civilians in the Azovstal steel works in Mariupol city which has been surrounded by Russian troops and the difficulties faced creating a humanitarian corridor to allow these people to escape; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22243/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, including in Mariupol where civilians are under siege in the Azovstal steel works and supplies are running out. The repeated failure to establish humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of besieged civilians, due to Russian shelling, is unconscionable.

Following his meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres on 26 April, President Putin expressed openness in principle to the safe evacuation of civilians from Azovstal, with the involvement of the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a long and trusted humanitarian partner of Ireland and will receive €5 million as part of the announced €20 million Irish humanitarian aid package to support Ukrainians in-country and in refugee host countries. Irish Aid also provided €10 million in annual core funding to the ICRC in February. My officials are in regular contact with the ICRC, which has an established presence in Ukraine, and has been working to establish access to besieged civilians in Mariupol. As an impartial, independent and neutral organisation, the ICRC engages in dialogue with all parties to conflict and is therefore well-placed to facilitate the evacuation for civilians and wounded, once it is safe to do so.

Ireland is advocating and coordinating at the EU and UN level for safe passage and humanitarian access to be ensured. Satisfactory security guarantees and concrete and specific agreements need to be arranged and implemented if genuine humanitarian corridors are to function effectively, including evacuation of civilians from Mariupol.