Kathmandu, April 20. On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for a four-day humanitarian pause in the Russia-Ukraine conflict throughout Orthodox Holy Week.

Standing in front of the “nonviolence” sculpture at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Guterres told reporters that a humanitarian pause would create the conditions to meet two crucial imperatives, beginning with the safe passage of all civilians willing to leave the areas of current and expected confrontation.

Guterres explained, “Easter is a season for renewal, resurrection, and hope. It is a time for reflection on the meaning of suffering, sacrifice, death – and rebirth. It is meant to be a moment of unity”.

He urged the two countries to silence the guns and forge a path to safety for so many at immediate risk. “More than 12 million people need humanitarian assistance in Ukraine today … We anticipate that this figure will increase to 15.7 million – that’s about 40 percent of all Ukrainians still left in the country,” Guterres noted.

The @UN is ready to send humanitarian aid convoys during this period to these locations. We are submitting detailed plans to the parties. pic.twitter.com/XDBBaClq4q

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) April 19, 2022

Russia-Ukraine war

The Russia-Ukraine war which began on February 24, has already seen 41 thousand deaths. Media reports suggest that nearly 11 million people have been displaced from their homes.

Earlier last month, Guterres indicated that the war between the two countries has planted seeds for political instability around the world. ‘The skyrocketing prices of fuel, fertilizers, and grains have severely affected developing countries around the world,’ Guterres noted.