Ukraine: After 100 days of war, Guterres calls for an end to violence as UN attempts to free up vital food and fertilizer exports |

In one statementthe general secretary say that the conflict, starting from 24 februaryhas claimed thousands of lives, caused untold destruction, displaced millions, led to unacceptable human rights violations, and is fueling a three-way global crisis. – food, energy and finance – is hurting the most vulnerable, nations and economies.

“As we mark this tragic day, I continue my call for an immediate cessation of violence, for comfortable humanitarian access to all in need, for the safe evacuation of stranded civilians. trapped in conflict zones, emergency protection of civilians and respect for human rights in line with international standards,” said the head of the United Nations.

Guterres said that the UN remained committed to the humanitarian effort, “but as I have emphasized from the outset, resolving this conflict will require negotiations and dialogue.” He stressed that the sooner the parties engage in good-faith diplomatic efforts to end the war, “the better it is for the interests of Ukraine, Russia and the world.”

“The United Nations stands ready to support all such efforts,” concluded the Secretary-General.

Complex puzzles

Meanwhile, UN humanitarians on Friday issued a fresh warning about the enormous demands posed by the war, as the Organization continues to promote food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine. and Russia to the wider world, amid an alarming level of food insecurity.

Amin Awad, the United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, confirmed that the Organization is making every effort to ensure the release of grain trapped in Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Equally important to the world’s farmers is a guaranteed supply of fertilizers from Russia, a major world producer.

Leading the discussions were top UN officials Martin Griffiths – Foundation Emergency Relief Coordinator – and Rebecca GrynspanSecretary-General of the United Nations Trade and Development Agency, UNCTAD.

“Negotiations are ongoing,” Mr. Awad told journalists in Geneva from Kyiv. “There are a lot of details and relations between Moscow and other countries that have concerns and negotiations continue. But there’s no obvious emerging solution right now because it’s a puzzle board that they have to move it together. “

Highlighting the difficulties associated with international trade with Russia despite the absence of sanctions on humanitarian exports of food and fertilizers from the country, Mr. Awad explained that Ms. Grynspan was working “with other financial institutions and the West in general to see how Russia can really, in regards to trading, continue”.

1.5 billion affected

About 1.5 billion people “are in need of food and fertilizer“Around the world, the UN official explained, adding that he hopes that the negotiations” actually go smoothly and are concluded as soon as possible so that the blockade of ports and the resumption of exports can be achieved. Fertilizer and food exports take place, before we have another crisis on our hands. “

Currently, at least 15.7 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, Mr. Awad said. The number is increasing day by day as the war continues, and with winter approaching, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people are in jeopardy.

Dr. Jarno Habicht said: “Today we mark 100 days since the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine.

Speaking from Lviv in the west of the country, he added that it was “100 days too much, and it put a huge strain on the health system… We verified 269 attacks on health. “, he said, and 76 people died along with at least 59 people were injured in those attacks.

Although humanitarians have explored different ways to transport grain from Ukraine to the wider world, the only viable solution is by sea, given the huge amount of grain and other staples that are available. other essential products are produced.

“Five million tons a month, which is 100 ships a month,” said Awad, adding that rail or trucking cannot manage the same volume and suffers from many logistical problems. need. “So it really has to be a maritime movement… to export 50 to 60 million tons of food to the world. ”

© UNICEF / Ashley Gilbertson

A 70-year-old woman stands on the doorstep of her bombed and burned apartment in central Chernihiv, Ukraine.

Unemployment on the border

In Ukraine, the daily needs of the people continued to grow, as the Russian advance in the eastern turrets. Nearly 14 million people were forced to flee, about a third of Ukraine’s total population, and workers have lost their jobs and are queuing for foodHumanitarians of the United Nations said.

“Clear Our biggest challenges are getting aid into the hardest to reach areas of this countryMatthew Hollingworth, Emergency Coordinator for WFP in Ukraine.

Speaking from Lviv, he explained that “36% of everything we have done in the last three months has been to support those areas of the country. But it’s not enough, it’s not close enough. And obviously, we need those ongoing calls to be heard so that humanitarian access into those areas of the country is unhindered. “

He added: “We have returned to a loaf of the world, where now sadly everyone is having to become recipients of substantial humanitarian assistance. Where the hungry are standing within limits when this is the bread of the world. ”

Health needs are also very important for women in the country, 265,000 of them were pregnant before the Russian invasion.

Section C, fire resistant

Jaime Nadal, UN Population Fund, said: “We have received reports and testimonies from doctors about deliveries, including cesarean sections, that took place in the basement of the maternity hospital, during shelters and even at subway stations.UNFPA) represented in Ukraine.

Speaking from a train station in Lviv, he added that other surgeries had taken place “in hard-to-reach areas with gynecologists providing remote, online guidance during delivery to save lives.” both mother and infant”.

The United Nations refugee agency warned that displacement and displacement continues to affect Ukrainians, especially the most vulnerable. UNHCR.

Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, said: “In Dnipro, I saw very shaking buses carrying people who had been evacuated from locations in Bakhmut.

Elderly, alone and on the run

Speaking from Vinnitsya in central Ukraine, she explained that most of the people she saw were elderly people “who have trouble walking alone and come in really empty-handed. And for some, this has been the second or even the third time they have run away since 2014.”

UN Migration Agency IOMhas continued to track the movement of people displaced by the war – including returnees – since it began on 24 February.

“Most of these handovers took place in the northern region of Ukraine, including nearly a million people come to Kyiv,” said Stephen Rogers, deputy head of the IOM Ukraine delegation. “However, when those people return to the North and the Central region… 33% in the Central (and) 21% in the North, the returnees have had their property destroyed and will need to be rebuilt.”

In common with conflicts everywhere, large swaths of Ukraine are currently contaminated with unexploded ordnance, the United Nations Development Program (United Nations Development Program)UNDP) warned.

“Demining is a top priority for UNDP, we are working with various government agencies to address it,” said Manal Fouani, acting Resident Representative of UNDP Ukraine. “Government estimates are that more than 300,000 square kilometers – almost half of Ukraine’s territory – are contaminated.”