UN sets up group for civilian evacuation from Azovstal steel works

NEW YORK. April 27 (Interfax) - The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has formed a group tasked with assisting civilian evacuation from the grounds of the Azovstal steel works in Mariupol, the UN Secretary-General's Representative Farhan Haq said on Wednesday.

The OCHA is "mobilizing a team on behalf of the UN system to coordinate the evacuation of civilians in the Azovstal plant in Mariupol," Haq said at a briefing.

Throughout Wednesday, there were discussions with Russia and Ukraine over further humanitarian steps, he said.

The UN's joint involvement with the International Committee of the Red Cross in the civilian evacuation from Azovstal was approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin at his meeting yesterday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.