The organisation is hopeful the evacuation can take place on Friday and it plans to lead 54 Ukrainian buses and private cars in a convoy out of the beleaguered city.
But the ICRC has not received permission to take humanitarian aid and has departed without the pre-positioned medical and other supplies, a spokesman said.
ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson told reporters in Geneva: “This effort has been, and remains, extremely complex.
“There are a lot of moving parts and not all of the details are yet in place to ensure that this happens in a safe manner.”
He added that it was hoped “thousands” could be brought to safety.
Russian Invasion Of Ukraine latest News(Summary)
- Top-level Ukrainian and Russian authorities have approved a plan for further evacuations from Mariupol, the Red Cross says
- Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the devastated city in Ukraine’s south
- Meanwhile Russia says Ukrainian helicopters attacked an oil depot in Belgorod, in Russian territory
- Ukraine hasn’t confirmed the strikes but says it is making gains around Kherson – the only major city held by Russian forces
- Russia’s foreign minister is in India and says he appreciates the country’s response to the war; India has not condemned Russia’s invasion
- Foreign gas buyers must open local currency accounts in Russia to pay for gas today after Vladimir Putin threatened supplies
