Working paper — research prototypeSeverity module · not operational guidance

Humanitarian corridors under siege: a daily severity model of civilian evacuation from Mariupol

The severity axis of a three-axis evacuation decision matrix (Severity × Feasibility × Destination viability), computed for each day of the siege window, 5 March – 20 May 2022, from ACLED event data, ERA5-referenced temperature, the documented corridor record, and WorldPop demographics. Select a date in §2 to generate the situation assessment in force that day.

RQ · How can and should AI tools be used to enhance the protection and evacuation of civilians during armed conflict, and how do they support or challenge obligations under IHL?
§1

Severity timeline & date selection

Fig. 1 · model output, p = 6
§2

Corridor geography

Fig. 2
Announced, failed · 5–13 Mar Self-evacuation · 14 Mar – 29 Apr Organized (UN/ICRC) · 30 Apr – 7 May Russia-bound (all phases) · filtration

Fig. 2 — Evacuation corridors from Mariupol, March–May 2022. Hatched area: territory under Russian control (approximate, mid-March); dashed line: approximate front line. The corridor corresponding to the regime selected in §1 is emphasised, and the inset reports the composite severity for the selected date with its component contributors; the encirclement ring around Mariupol is coloured and scaled by severity. Westbound movement to Zaporizhzhia crossed Russian-held territory and checkpoints between Manhush and Vasylivka; the eastbound route into Russian-controlled territory via Bezimenne filtration operated in parallel throughout all phases, and during the UN/ICRC operation some evacuees proceeded to Russian-controlled areas rather than Zaporizhzhia. Schematic — positions approximate.

§2b

Satellite reference — selected date

Fig. 2b
§3

Situation assessment

Composite severity
Vulnerability weight Vw1.114
Priority = S × Vw
Show calculation
§4

Assessment conclusion

generated from §3
§5

Methodology

§6

References

    Retrospective research prototype. Kinetic variables derive from the author's ACLED extraction for Mariupol raion, held constant within documented phases; the temperature series is an interpolated climatology pending full ERA5 extraction; the corridor record and parties' conduct follow OCHA and OHCHR reporting; front line and controlled areas in Fig. 1 are approximate. Not operational guidance.