The children of Mariupol need a safe evacuation corridor. According to independent estimates, there are still about 100,000 people in ruined Mariupol, many of them children. For more than 50 days they have lived in the basements of the besieged city, have no heating, and have almost no food or water. At the same time, the Russian army is obstructing safe humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, sabotaging such efforts by Ukrainian officials.

More than 22,000 people died in less than two months in Mariupol alone due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. In the recently industrialized and vibrant city near the sea, no building has been left untouched, the city completely destroyed. Shortly after the full-scale invasion, the Russian army laid siege to the city and launched a massive military offensive, followed by almost nonstop carpet bombardment and missile strikes from the air, land and sea. Thousands were killed trying to leave the city. Many were taken to filtration camps, including children taken away from their parents and moved to Russia against their will. Their fates are unknown. The chances of dying in the city are so high that the survivors cannot bury the dead lying in the open air because it is too dangerous to leave the shelter.

It is difficult to understand and comprehend, but it is happening now in the middle of the European continent in the 21st century. This is a tragedy, but instead of mourning we must stand for those who still alive and have hopes for their future. A massive united international effort is required to save the children of Mariupol.

Please help civilian Mariupol survivors evacuate safely from the city by signing my petition calling on world politicians, religious figures and community leaders to join forces in organizing safe evacuation corridors from Mariupol.