In connection with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic around the world, the Russian Foreign Ministry urges the parties to regional armed conflicts to immediately stop fighting, apply a ceasefire and a humanitarian pause. This is stated in a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, published on the Department's website.
The statement emphasizes that Russia fully supports the relevant statement of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
"We assume that otherwise, due to the lack of access to necessary medicines and qualified medical care for the majority of people living in "hot spots", such a development could lead to a global humanitarian disaster. The situation in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria, as well as in the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza strip, is of particular concern. We also note the risks associated with the possible degradation of the epidemiological situation in African countries, where the armed confrontation continues. The most vulnerable areas are refugees and internally displaced persons' camps," the message reads.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to countries in need without any political preconditions.
"Such support should be focused on saving people who are in distress. It is unacceptable to use humanitarian aid as a tool to impose internal political changes, as well as to speculate on the fate of victims", the statement emphasizes.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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