Dear All Who Stand With Ukraine,

What a tragedy! So I will get straight to the point of this petition. I contact you along with many others because there is a large number of civilians trapped in unlivable conditions with no options to get out. I have been receiving messages from close, life long friends and extended family saying that they’ve been stuck without water, gas and electricity for a week. They are bombed all the time. They put pillows in windows to protect themselves against flying pieces of glass and debris. I speak of towns outside of Kyiv - the Kyivan suburbs - but of course, there are more. (I just don't have direct contact with them.)

My plea is to intensify talks about humanitarian 'green' corridors and evacuation of civilians. Civilians are being killed, which just a week ago was promised, won’t be happening. Trains and train stations are being blown up, vehicles with refugees are being shot at, while those inside don't have a fighting chance. I can’t sit idly by when I wake up to messages from people whom I’ve know since I was 7, asking for a green corridor or they’ll die. Needless to add, how long can a person live without water! And to get it, they have to go outside. I lost contact with those dear to me and I hope it's only because they can't charge their phones. I also know that many, if not all, train stations outside of Kyiv are destroyed. The only option to get people out is by bus or van but for that, a safe passage must be arranged. Tragically, evacuation and a ceasefire in Mariupol were not successful, which should prompt us to fight for it even more and appeal to our countries authorities to continue negotiations for safe passages.  

Please know that this plea is not at all about any military involvement. I, too, don’t want a bigger conflict, but there are evacuation procedures in every war! Locations like Bucha, Irpen’, Gostomel, Vorzel, Vasilkiv and many more, have hundreds of people (these are mostly women, children, the elderly and those with health issues) in hiding without water, gas, electricity and medication.

PLEASE, let’s do everything we can, to negotiate a solid evacuation plan and have it be implemented immediately! 

A big, heartfelt THANK YOU for your support!