Using a total of 27 cargo trucks, UNICEF was able to reach the southern Ukrainian city and pre-locate water purification, sanitation and hygiene equipment to prevent illness caused by a lack of clean water and sanitation – a major threat to vulnerable families. wounded in war.
About 110,000 people will benefit, UNICEF said, since the filters and chemicals are part of the aid distribution, which, along with hygiene kits, will help keep around 14,000 children healthy.
Quick reply
“UNICEF is delivering lifesaving supplies to critical areas including Odesa and surrounding areas, so that we can quickly respond to the most vulnerable families affected by the ongoing fighting and shelling in eastern Ukraine‘ said UNICEF Ukraine Representative Murat Sahin.
“Provided safe water supplies and hygiene kits will help an estimated 50,000 children stay healthy in these challenging circumstances. “
As with the city of Odesa, these supplies will be moved to areas close to the fighting, including Mykolaiv, which has come under heavy shelling in recent weeks.
Help those who have been displaced
In addition, the supplies will contribute to improving the living conditions of internally displaced families and children, many of whom have fled to Odesa from war-affected counties.
The United Nations-brokered deal last Friday paves the way for Ukraine to start exporting grain again to markets in developing countries, which will rely on being able to ship grain out of the country. Odesa’s main port, which has been under threat since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. , and the exploitation of waterways around the coastal city.
So far, the city has remained relatively peaceful compared to the near-total devastation of Mariupol further east. But on Saturday, Russia launched cruise missile strikes, which a Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed on Sunday that they had targeted military infrastructure in the port of Odesa.
More aid to Government-controlled areas
Amid continued hopes that the first shipments of grounded grain could leave Ukraine’s Black Sea ports within days, 50 tons of various humanitarian supplies, initially destined for one affected site, other heavy hit, Was delivered to the Government-controlled settlement of Stepnohirsk was severely affected.
Due to the ongoing conflicts, the UN and its humanitarian partners have not been able to provide any assistance to non-Government controlled areas since the beginning of the war.
In this case, the town of Polohy could not be contacted, according to a statement from UN humanitarians in Ukraine, issued on Monday evening.
Follow Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani, medicine, food, blankets and children’s supplies have been delivered to Stepnohirsk and will also be sent to the neighboring town of Prymorske.
About 5,000 people in urgent need will benefit from the delivered items.
Ms. Lubrani called on all parties to the conflict to allow life-saving aid to reach those most in need.
