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ICRC to continue efforts to gain access to people held captive in Ukraine

The ICRC must have full access to POWs and civilian internees, wherever they are held, the statement reads

GENEVA, May 20. /TASS/. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has pledged to continue its efforts to gain access to all people held captive in Ukraine, the ICRC Geneva office said in a press statement on Friday.

"As per its mandate given by the Third Geneva Convention, and in agreement with all parties, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is visiting prisoners of war (POWs) on all sides of the international armed conflict in Ukraine," it said. "These visits to prisoners of war on all sides in recent months have allowed the ICRC to inform hundreds of families about their loved ones. Many more families need answers; the ICRC must have full access to POWs and civilian internees, wherever they are held, in order to provide those answers."

"These visits help ensure respect for their life and dignity by reminding the detaining authorities that the captives’ treatment and their conditions of internment or detention must correspond to standards laid down by IHL," the ICRC said, adding that it would continue its "bilateral dialogue with unabated determination to gain access to all people held captive.".