India on Monday said it is “deeply concerned” that despite its repeated urgings to both Russia and Ukraine, the safe corridor for Indian students stranded in Sumy did not materialize.
“India has been consistent in calling for an immediate end to all hostilities,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
He said India has reiterated its urgent demand for safe and uninterrupted passage for all innocent civilians, including Indian nationals remaining in Ukraine.
“We are deeply concerned that despite our repeated urgings to both sides, the safe corridor for our students stranded in Sumy did not materialize,” Tirumurti said.
Tirumurti said India has managed to facilitate the safe return of over 20,000 Indians from Ukraine.
India has been making efforts to evacuate its citizens from the city but with little success due to heavy shelling and air strikes.
To evacuate its citizens from war-hit Ukraine, the Indian government has launched 'Operation Ganga' under which thousands of stranded people, mostly students, have been evacuated from nations bordering Ukraine's western frontiers. However, the evacuation from the eastern part remains a challenge.
Tirumurti underscored it is important that humanitarian action is always guided by the principles of humanitarian assistance - humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. “These should not be politicised,” he said.