Amid ongoing humanitarian operations, Martin Griffiths told the ambassadors that he had come to inform them in New York of the “massive death, destruction, displacement and suffering” that had taken place since the February 24 invasion, and the challenges that violence and winter weather continue to face. has become more severe.
“More than 14 million people are still forced to leave their homes in Ukraine, including 6.5 million internally displaced people in Ukraine and more than 7.8 million registered refugees across Europe,” he said. detailed.
Health under fire
From the UN human rights office OHCHRHe said 17,023 civilians have been killed since February 24, including 419 children, but “we know that the actual number is much higher”.
World Health Organization (WHO) estimated there were at least 715 attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare system, including 630 affecting medical facilities and 61 affecting staff.
“Attacks in Ukraine accounted for more than 70 percent of all attacks on healthcare infrastructure reported worldwide this year,” said the UN’s relief director. .
Since February 24, 1,148 children have been killed or injured, Griffiths said, “while millions are fleeing, displaced, separated from their families or at risk of violence. “.
suffering
He became visibly choked up in the room, stating that some 765,000 children need and receive psychosocial support, to help them cope with the trauma they’ve experienced.
Meanwhile, mobile teams at internal displacement centers are registering, assessing, and providing in-person assistance.
At the same time, gender-based violence against women and girls continues to be widespread and underreported, he said.
As humanitarian organizations work to respond, they are scaling up essential services, including networks of safe spaces and providing survivor-centered services to women, girls, boys and men who have experienced gender-based violence.
Energy Grid Attack
With freezing temperatures expected to drop below -20°C, attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure continue, leaving millions without access to heat and electricity. and water — “adding another dangerous dimension to the humanitarian crisis posed by war,” Griffiths said.
These attacks deprive people of their right to basic health care and children’s right to school.
“In today’s Ukraine, the survivability of civilians is under attack,” he clarified, reminding that already vulnerable people, such as the elderly and displaced people, are at risk. tallest.
Under international law, “objects that are indispensable to existence… must be protected… in all military operations,” Griffiths added.
The humanitarian community continues to stay and provide for the Ukrainians, with nearly 690 partners providing life-critical aid and protection services to 13.5 million people.
Call for international support
Working around the clock to deliver vital winter essentials and services, they reached more than 630,000 civilians, providing around 400 life-saving generators for essential facilities.
Since October, however, continued attacks on the entire energy network of Russian forces have created a whole new level of demand, he warned.
“The scale of destruction of electricity and heating infrastructure requires increased international support for the Government of Ukraine beyond what humanitarian operations can provide,” he warned.
A woman collects water from a truck in Lysychanskt, Ukraine.
Donor’s Generosity
Mr. Griffiths praised the unprecedented support from national governments and other organizations for the United Nations Flash Ukraine Appeal, noting that $3.1 billion was received out of $4.3 la is required until the end of the year.
“To date, we have delivered nearly $1 billion in humanitarian cash assistance to more than 4.3 million people,” he said.
“But more needs to be done to fix the funding shortfall. Continued support is critical to sustaining humanitarian operations through 2023.”
Reaching those in need
While acknowledging some improvements in humanitarian access, he said obstacles to accessing areas in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia remain.
“It is extremely important that humanitarian organizations are allowed to send staff and interagency convoys to deliver relief supplies to all those in need, wherever they are,” he stressed.
Of the 13.5 million people reached since February, about one million are in areas beyond the control of the Ukrainian government.
“Under international humanitarian law, all parties must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid to vulnerable civilians and must ensure that aid workers have the freedom of movement necessary for their work.”
‘No effort’
At the beginning of 2022, 274 million people needed humanitarian assistance. Mr Griffiths told ambassadors that the projected number for 2023 has now risen to 339 million – a 24 per cent increase.
“One in every 23 people on the planet,” he said, equivalent to a population the size of the world’s most populous country.
“We must do more to reverse this devastating trend and…redouble all efforts to prevent further escalation and end the war in Ukraine…and do our best for peace.”
Click here to view the entire meeting.
