Earth Science News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
S. Africa, Vatican, Qatar to mediate return of Ukrainian children from Russia
S. Africa, Vatican, Qatar to mediate return of Ukrainian children from Russia
by AFP Staff Writers
Montreal (AFP) Oct 31, 2024

South Africa and the Vatican joined Qatar at a conference in Montreal on Thursday in offering to mediate and facilitate the return of about 20,000 Ukrainian children from Russia.

The "Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's Peace Formula" brought together representatives from 70 countries.

"Children, civilians and prisoners of war must be allowed to return home," Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in announcing an agreement by delegates on steps to "bring these people back home."

Qatar, South Africa and the Vatican, she said, would serve as intermediaries to support and negotiate the return of the children. Lithuania and Qatar would act as transit countries.

The United Arab Emirates also offered to help mediate exchanges of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he was "happy that we settled (on) the network of partners to speed up this process" of repatriations.

"I am happy to go back to Kyiv with concrete results which many Ukrainian families are waiting for," he said.

"In times when we see that international humanitarian law, unfortunately, does not provide protection, full protection, such joint efforts and leadership at this conference demonstrates that we could achieve results."

Since July 2023, Qatar has secured the return of dozens of Ukrainian children that had been moved to Russia and occupied territories since the start of its invasion in February 2022.

Kyiv has demanded the return of nearly 20,000 minors from Russia -- a figure that many observers consider to be underestimated.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in March 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the war crime of "illegal deportations."

These accusations have been repeatedly rejected by Russian authorities, who claim to have been protecting children from the fighting and say they are ready to return the children to their relatives in Ukraine if they request it.

According to Kyiv, 860 children have been repatriated so far.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Over 20 hospitalised after fire in southwest China
Beijing (AFP) Oct 31, 2024
More than 20 people have been taken to hospital after a fire tore through a building in southwest China on Thursday, state media said. The blaze engulfed a shop on the ground floor of the building in the city of Chengdu, according to state news agency Xinhua. State broadcaster CCTV published blurry photos of a small group of people gazing at orange flames at the entrance to a hotel. Firefighters received an alert at 11:02 am and had extinguished the blaze by 11:15 am, Xinhua said. It add ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Flood mishandling fuels fury at Spain royals, PM: experts

Over 20 hospitalised after fire in southwest China

Smart-Connect advances space tech for disaster response solutions

Spain sends thousands more troops to flood zone

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
To tackle plastic scourge, Philippines makes companies pay

Laser measurements aid in tracking space debris and mapping Earth's water resources

New laser technology speeds up landmine detection process

New 3D printed metal alloy enhances durability for space exploration

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Experts Warn of Potential Ocean Epidemic Risk from Migrating Species

Curtin and NASA unlock ocean secrets from space

New UMass model sheds light on carbon emissions from inland US waters

No 'island of garbage' here, Puerto Rico's new marine reserve

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The shifting history of North America's ancient ice sheet

Austria's Alpine refuges and trails crumble as climate warms

Large volumes of meltwater found within Greenland Ice Sheet during summer

NASA helps find thawing permafrost adds to near-term global warming

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Making agriculture more resilient to climate change

France says still room for negotiation over China's brandy tariffs

Surf and Turf: Oregon State researchers to study feeding seaweed to cattle

Czech Republic curbs animal movement over bluetongue spread

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Indonesia volcano eruption kills 10, sets houses aflame

Newly detected seismic wave may enable earlier warnings for remote oceanic eruptions

Taiwan cleans up after Typhoon Kong-rey leaves two dead

Strong quake hits off US West Coast: USGS

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
East DR Congo truce monitors to begin operations Tuesday

UK FM Lammy vows 'new approach' ahead of Africa trip

Chad denies anti-jihadist operation hit civilians

Guinea junta chief promotes self to army general

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Gentrification Fuels Alienation Among East Asian Urban Residents, Study Finds

Colombia's Awa people resist violence, maintain 'spiritual bond' with nature

A SMART method to enhance effectiveness of cartilage repair therapy

Artificial intelligence forms external cognitive system, reshaping human thought processes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.