Latest
Press Release
29 September 2022
FRAUD ALERT: UN WARNS THE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS AND AID ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT SCAM SCHEMES USING THE NAME OF THE UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN FUND
Learn more
Press Release
29 September 2022
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with the Government and oblast authorities to repair and insulate damaged homes before the winter comes
Learn more
Press Release
29 September 2022
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- REMARKS TO PRESS ON RUSSIAN DECISION ON ANNEXATION OF UKRAINIAN TERRITORY
Learn more
Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Ukraine:
Speech
15 February 2022
Secretary-General's remarks to the Press Stakeout - on Ukraine
Good afternoon.
I am deeply worried by the heightened tensions and increased speculation about a potential military conflict in Europe.
The price in human suffering, destruction and damage to European and global security is too high to contemplate.
We simply cannot accept even the possibility of such a disastrous confrontation.
I will remain fully engaged in the hours and days to come.
I just spoke this morning with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and of Ukraine.
My message is clear: There is no alternative to diplomacy.
All issues – including the most intractable – can and must be addressed and resolved through diplomatic frameworks. It is my firm belief that this principle will prevail.
The United Nations Country Team remains fully operational in Ukraine.
As United Nations Secretary-General, it is my duty to appeal for the full respect of the United Nations Charter, a fundamental pillar of international law.
The Charter clearly says, and I quote:
“All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.”
“All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”
The time is now to defuse tensions and de-escalate actions on the ground.
There is no place for incendiary rhetoric. Public statements should aim to reduce tensions, not inflame them.
I welcome the recent flurry of diplomatic contacts and engagements, including between Heads of State.
But more needs to be done, and I expect all to intensify their efforts.
I have made my good offices available and we will leave no stone unturned in the search for a peaceful solution.
Abandoning diplomacy for confrontation is not a step over a line, it is a dive over a cliff.
In short, my appeal is this: Do not fail the cause of peace.
Thank you.
1 of 3
Press Release
11 February 2022
Joint UN mission visits humanitarian-development nexus projects in eastern Ukraine
Osnat Lubrani, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, joined Dafina Gercheva, UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine, and Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine on a visit to eastern Ukraine 9-11 February 2022.
This joint mission focused on humanitarian-development nexus projects, jointly implemented by UNDP and UNHCR. The nexus approach aims to address critical humanitarian and protection needs in a way which is sustainable and simultaneously strengthens local systems and accountabilities, by fostering links and synergies between humanitarian and development actions, in close collaboration with local authorities and local communities. The visited sites constitute strong examples of how this approach can provide sustainable solutions for internally displaced and conflict-affected persons.
The projects were designed in close consultation with the local population, in partnership with the private sector, and local and regional authorities. Budget allocations have been secured from authorities to ensure that the interventions remain sustainable and anchor local ownership.
The projects were made possible by the generous contributions of the European Union. Other important partners include Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
In Popasna, Luhansk Oblast, on 9 February, Lubrani, Gercheva and Lindholm Billing attended the opening ceremony of the renovated ‘Leleka’ rehabilitation center for children with disabilities.
At the opening ceremony, Lubrani said that the center would ease access to persons with disabilities to much needed facilities and services as well as build their skills and their confidence.
“Meeting the children and the dedicated staff and volunteers, it is rewarding to realize how this center is contributing to full inclusion of people with disabilities in society.” Lubrani said.
Also in Popasna, the mission visited the University of the Third Age, which encourages life-long learning, and boarded Mobile Social Services centers. These roaming vehicles provide medical and sanitary services, but also legal advice, socio-psychological assistance and gardening help, to name a few.
On 10 February, Lubrani, Gercheva and Lindholm Billing visited a Multifunctional Creative Space for Youth Development, in Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast. The creative space allows children, primarily from socioeconomically vulnerable families, to develop their creative talents in a safe space.
Moving on to Niu York in Donetsk Oblast, the mission visited the town’s Cultural Hub – a platform for community initiatives, dialogue, and concerts. Local youth proudly explained that after 70 years of being called Novhorodske, the town regained its original name in 2021. The center also serves as space for an impressive exhibition of photo portraits celebrating women leaders and activists in the community.
The next day, the mission continued to the town of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. There, it visited the Territorial Center for Social Services, which offers psychosocial support, leisure and personal development for older persons who have been greatly impacted by the conflict, including through family separation and trauma.
Also in Avdiivka, children attending the “Renaissance – Music School of the Future” held a moving concert for the visitors. Currently 22 teachers teach music instruments and theory, including Ukrainian music history, to some 180 students.
Afterwards, Lubrani and Lindholm Billing attended the opening of a new traumatology unit at the central hospital of Avdiivka. This improvement will expand access to health care for many Ukrainians on both sides of the contact line.
Lindholm Billing, said that there are still critical humanitarian needs due to the protracted conflict, but highlighted the importance of – wherever possible – addressing these in a way which simultaneously builds the capacity of local communities and authorities to protect the rights and dignity of the population in the future:
“UNHCR, as a humanitarian organization with a protection and solutions mandate, provides different types of support and assistance to help individuals or communities in a particularly vulnerable situation address an immediate need, such as psychosocial support, and strives to work in partnership with development organizations, such as UNDP, to link our programs to their projects aimed at developing local systems and structures. In this way, immediate needs are met, while local systems are developed to address the same or similar needs of other people in the future. The people whose needs our programs are seeking to help, and the local authorities are key actors and partners in this community-based ‘Humanitarian-Development Nexus’ approach.”
At the same time, Gercheva attended the opening of the local court, which had stopped operating after the beginning of the conflict in 2014. New computers and videoconferencing equipment will enable the court to resume hearings right away, thus facilitating access to justice for all Ukrainians.
Gercheva said that all people must have unhindered access to justice – especially those who live in the conflict-affected areas across eastern Ukraine.
“The armed conflict and ongoing pandemic have created additional challenges for justice and rule of law by limiting access to courts, and hindering the movement of people who try to cross the ‘contact line’ seeking protection,” she said. “Despite the many obstacles and formidable challenges, UNDP and its partners will continue to make every effort to enhance the capacity of Ukraine's judiciary.”
During the visit, the UN delegation also met with the heads of Donetsk and Luhansk oblast administrations, to discuss the ongoing partnership and to explore areas for strengthened future collaboration.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Lubrani, Gercheva and Lindholm Billing to host townhall meetings to engage with UN staff, field questions and express strong appreciation for the work of all UN personnel serving in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
The joint mission was a testament to the UN’s continued engagement for all Ukrainians, with focus on those most vulnerable. It highlighted the potential for further operationalization of the humanitarian-development nexus approach and underscored the UN’s commitment to helping Ukraine achieve the sustainable development goals and ensuring that nobody is left behind.
1 of 3
Publication
17 February 2022
2022 Humanitarian Needs And Response Overview: Ukraine
After seven years, the protracted humanitarian crisis has faded from global headlines causing mistaken perceptions that it is “frozen”. The ceasefire brokered in July 2020 has become increasingly fragile, resulting in the number of civilian casualties returning to pre-ceasefire levels. Civilian infrastructure is frequently coming under fire, and widespread contamination by explosive ordnance and mines remains a serious concern. With no political solution to the conflict in sight, it is likely that the humanitarian needs will continue with an increase in severity in 2022, particularly in NGCA.
The socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in eastern Ukraine has become more pronounced due to the prolonged closure of the “contact line”, restrictions on movement, and decreasing livelihood opportunities. Residents of NGCA, particularly the elderly, have been most impacted by restrictions on movement across the “contact line”, cutting them off from basic services and social entitlements, including pensions.
With the winter fast approaching and the COVID-19 epidemiological situation worsening, especially in NGCA, the operational environment has become increasingly complicated. The humanitarian crisis continues to be at risk of being politicized, and access constraints remain a serious challenge to humanitarian operations in certain areas of eastern Ukraine.
1 of 3
Story
30 September 2022
The Secretary-General - remarks to press on Russian decision on annexation of Ukrainian territory
The Kremlin has announced that a ceremony will take place tomorrow in Moscow that will launch a process of annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
In this moment of peril, I must underscore my duty as Secretary-General to uphold the Charter of the United Nations.
The UN Charter is clear.
Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the UN Charter and international law.
The United Nations General Assembly is equally clear.
In its landmark Friendly Relations Declaration of 24 October 1970 —repeatedly cited as stating rules of general international law by the International Court of Justice — the General Assembly declared that “the territory of a State shall not be the object of acquisition by another State resulting from the threat or use of force” and that “no territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognized as legal”.
And I must be clear.
The Russian Federation, as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, shares a particular responsibility to respect the Charter.
Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned.
It cannot be reconciled with the international legal framework.
It stands against everything the international community is meant to stand for.
It flouts the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations.
It is a dangerous escalation.
It has no place in the modern world.
It must not be accepted.
The position of the United Nations is unequivocal: we are fully committed to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.
I want to underscore that the so-called “referenda” in the occupied regions were conducted during active armed conflict, in areas under Russian occupation, and outside Ukraine’s legal and constitutional framework.
They cannot be called a genuine expression of the popular will.
Any decision by Russia to go forward will further jeopardize the prospects for peace.
It will prolong the dramatic impacts on the global economy, especially developing countries and hinder our ability to deliver life-saving aid across Ukraine and beyond.
It is high time to step back from the brink.
Now more than ever, we must work together to end this devastating and senseless war and uphold the UN Charter and international law.
Thank you.
1 of 5
Story
27 September 2022
UN and humanitarian partners step up efforts to assist over 150,000 people impacted by recent hostilities in Kharkivska oblast
The humanitarian community has, over the last 10 days, dispatched the first part of a series of convoys with urgent relief supplies to areas of Kharkivska oblast that only recently became accessible to aid organizations.
“I visited some of these areas last week, including Balakliia, and I saw for myself the destruction and trauma caused by the war. In some areas, we have seen houses, health centres and schools damaged or destroyed. Authorities are working to repair the damages to the gas and energy systems, but thousands are still without supply. Making sure people are supported and have a warm and safe place to stay now that the cold season is upon us is a matter of life or death for thousands,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown.
More than 73,000 people – nearly half of the population living in these areas – have already received food, and 12,000 hygiene kits have been distributed along with household items, including kitchen sets, solar lamps, and blankets to 15,000 people. Medicines, surgical and emergency health kits, enough to treat 10,000 people over the coming weeks, have been distributed to health centres across the areas. Deliveries of essential items will continue.
The humanitarian community is working closely with national and local authorities, as well as volunteer groups, to deliver aid and help people who have endured the horrors of seven months of war. “The humanitarian deliveries are essential for immediate needs; treating the trauma and the fear will be much harder and take longer,” noted Denise Brown.
1 of 5
Story
25 August 2022
THE KILLING OF CHILDREN IS SHOCKING: DENISE BROWN, HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR UKRAINE, ON THE STRIKE IN CHAPLYNE
Children were killed in this attack and they died in places where they expected to be safe, in their homes or travelling with their families. Yes, they should have been safe and they were not.
On behalf of the United Nations and the humanitarian community in Ukraine, I send our most heartfelt condolences to those who lost their loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to the people injured.
The human toll of the attack in Chaplyne is just one more example of the level of suffering that this war is causing the people of Ukraine. Yesterday, several other attacks across the country also killed civilians. Recent days have also seen intense shelling of frontline cities, including Nikopol and Zelenodolsk, in Dnipropetrovska oblast, where hostilities have left a path of destruction, with dozens of houses damaged, as well as schools, shops and pharmacies.
In the six months since Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians have continued to see their loved ones killed, injured and traumatized, their families separated, and their homes, schools and hospitals attacked. Yet, in times of war, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
All actors, without exception, must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and take constant care to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure so that they are protected, their houses preserved, and essential services remain.
1 of 5
Story
24 August 2022
Comment by Matilda Bogner, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine on six months into Russia’s armed attack on Ukraine
The resulting escalation of the 8-year long armed conflict has brought more death, suffering, damage and destruction. Every day, we speak with people affected by the war, and hear about and document violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including war crimes.
From 24 February 2022 to 23 August 2022, our Mission recorded 13,560 civilian casualties in the country: 5,614 civilians were killed, including 362 children, and 7,946 were injured, including 610 children. 92 percent of these casualties were caused by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas.
We know that the actual figures are considerably higher. Each of these figures is a human being, whose life or health has been lost or damaged.
Civilians also suffer from arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance. We have documented 327 cases (279 men, 47 women, 1 boy) in territory controlled by Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups since 24 February: 105 victims (86 men and 18 women, and a boy) were released, and 14 were found dead (13 men and 1 woman). We also documented 39 arbitrary arrests (35 men and 4 women) by law enforcement bodies of Ukraine, where procedural and judicial guarantees of the right to liberty have been violated and 28 other cases (24 men and 4 women) that may amount to enforced disappearance.
Many of these victims, on both sides, have faced torture. Human beings, whoever they are, must be treated with dignity.
Prisoners of war and those hors de combat have also been tortured and ill-treated. Protections guaranteed to them by international law must be respected. While we have access to prisoners of war and other conflict-related detainees in Government-controlled areas, this is not the case for prisoners of war or conflict-related detainees held in other areas. We call on the Russian Federation to grant independent monitors full access to all individuals detained in relation to the armed conflict by the Russian Federation, including those held by Russian-affiliated armed groups.
The escalation has also further impacted the more vulnerable groups in society. We meet older persons, persons with disabilities, whose houses have been damaged or destroyed, who cannot afford to rent housing in safe areas, or repair the roofs, walls and windows with their small pensions. They have to choose between buying essential medicines and hard fuels to store for the upcoming winter. It will be a difficult winter, but policies that take into account the most vulnerable can help to alleviate the worst impacts.
We reiterate our calls to the sides to take constant care to spare and protect civilians while hostilities are ongoing.
We will continue to document the facts on the ground, an essential part of seeking to prevent further violations and to hold those accountable for the violations already committed. We are also ready to provide human rights expertise in developing policies to respond to the current challenges.
Our most recent findings on the impact of the armed attack by the Russian Federation on human rights in Ukraine will be provided in our next report in September.
1 of 5
Story
30 August 2022
The Secretary-General remarks to the press in Lviv, Ukraine
Good afternoon.
President Zelenskyy, allow me to begin by thanking you and the people of Ukraine for welcoming me once again during such a difficult period.
I am also very pleased to be joined by President Erdoğan.
Just a few weeks ago, the two of us were together in Istanbul for the signing of the Black Sea Grain Initiative – a landmark agreement to help vulnerable people in every corner of the world.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I have been clear: There is no solution to the global food crisis without ensuring full global access to Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertilizers.
I want to express my gratitude to all parties for their support.
In less than one month, 21 ships have departed from Ukrainian ports and 15 vessels have left Istanbul for Ukraine to load up with grain and other food supplies.
As we speak, more than 560,000 metric tons of grain and other food produced by Ukrainian farmers is making its way to markets around the world.
I am especially pleased that the first UN-chartered vessel carrying Ukrainian wheat is on its way to respond to the needs of people suffering from the worst drought in the Horn of Africa in decades.
And as we speak, more than 560,000 metric tonnes of grain and other food produced by Ukrainian farmers is making its way into markets around the world to people in them.
Meanwhile – and critically – we have seen signs that global food markets are beginning to stabilize.
Wheat prices dropped by as much as 8% following the signing of the agreements.
The FAO Food Price Index fell by 9% in July - the biggest decline since 2008.
Most food commodities are now trading at prices below pre-war levels, but still very high.
But let’s have no illusions – there is a long way to go before this will be translated into the daily life of people at their local bakery and in their markets.
Supply chains are still disrupted.
Energy and transportation costs remain unacceptably high.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The positive momentum on the food front reflects a victory for diplomacy – for multilateralism – for people caught in the grips of a cost-of-living crisis – and for the hard-working farmers of Ukraine.
But it is only the beginning. I urge all parties to ensure continued success.
This is an unprecedented agreement and, in my experience, by their very nature, initiatives in conflict situations are inherently fragile.
They must be constantly nurtured.
From day one, the parties of the JCC [Joint Coordination Center] have worked professionally and in good faith to keep the food flowing.
I appeal for this to continue and for them to overcome all obstacles in a spirit of compromise and permanently settle all difficulties.
Getting food and fertilizer out of Ukraine and Russia in larger quantities is crucial to further calm commodity markets and lower prices.
It is essential to provide relief to the most vulnerable people and countries.
And it is vital to help reverse the turmoil in the global fertilizer market that is now threatening next season’s crops – including rice, the most widely consumed staple in the world.
In the meantime, the United Nations will go on working in full solidarity with the Ukrainian people to mobilize all of our capacities and resources – along side our national partners – to continue to provide humanitarian support to people in need wherever it is required.
We will do our best to scale up our operations to face the difficult the coming winter.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
But, of course, the heart of the problem that brings us here remains the war.
As I have stated time and time again, this invasion is a violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and of the United Nations Charter.
The war brought innumerous death, massive destruction and displacement, and dramatic violations of human rights.
People need peace.
Peace in line with the United Nations Charter.
Peace in line with international law.
I remain gravely concerned about the unfolding situation in and around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia.
Common sense must prevail to avoid any actions that might endanger the physical integrity, safety or security of the nuclear plant.
The facility must not be used as part of any military operation.
Instead, agreement is urgently needed to reestablish Zaporizhhia as purely civilian infrastructure and to ensure the safety of the area.
In close contact with the IAEA, the UN Secretariat has assessed that we have in Ukraine the logistics and security capacity to support any IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from Kyiv, provided both Russia and Ukraine agree.
Military equipment and personnel should be withdrawn from the plant.
Further deployment of forces or equipment to the site must be avoided.
The area needs to be demilitarized.
We must tell it like it is – any potential damage to Zaporizhzhia is suicide.
Today, I also discussed the investigation of the tragic incident in a detention facility in Olenivka on 29 July.
What happened there is unacceptable. All prisoners of war are protected under International Humanitarian Law.
The International Committee of the Red Cross must have access to them wherever they are kept.
I decided to establish a Fact-Finding mission.
The Terms of Reference of the mission were shared with Ukraine and the Russian Federation, as well as the make-up of the team. It is my intention to appoint General Carlos dos Santos Cruz of Brazil to lead this mission.
General Santos Cruz is a respected officer with over 40 years of national and international public security and military experience, including as a commander of UN peacekeeping operations.
We will now continue to work to obtain the necessary assurances to guarantee secure access to Olenivka and any other relevant locations.
To put it simply, a fact-finding mission must be free to find the facts.
The team must be able to gather and analyze necessary information.
Above all, that means safe, secure and unfettered access to people, places and evidence without any interference from anybody.
We will continue to do all we can to advance this and other efforts correspond to needs of the Ukrainian people.
Once again, my thanks to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for your welcome.
You can continue to count on the support of the United Nations to promote human rights, international law and the cause of peace.
Thank you.
1 of 5
Press Release
29 September 2022
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- REMARKS TO PRESS ON RUSSIAN DECISION ON ANNEXATION OF UKRAINIAN TERRITORY
The Kremlin has announced that a ceremony will take place tomorrow in Moscow that will launch a process of annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
In this moment of peril, I must underscore my duty as Secretary-General to uphold the Charter of the United Nations.
The UN Charter is clear.
Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the UN Charter and international law.
The United Nations General Assembly is equally clear.
In its landmark Friendly Relations Declaration of 24 October 1970 —repeatedly cited as stating rules of general international law by the International Court of Justice — the General Assembly declared that “the territory of a State shall not be the object of acquisition by another State resulting from the threat or use of force” and that “no territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognized as legal”.
And I must be clear.
The Russian Federation, as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, shares a particular responsibility to respect the Charter.
Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned.
It cannot be reconciled with the international legal framework.
It stands against everything the international community is meant to stand for.
It flouts the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations.
It is a dangerous escalation.
It has no place in the modern world.
It must not be accepted.
The position of the United Nations is unequivocal: we are fully committed to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.
I want to underscore that the so-called “referenda” in the occupied regions were conducted during active armed conflict, in areas under Russian occupation, and outside Ukraine’s legal and constitutional framework.
They cannot be called a genuine expression of the popular will.
Any decision by Russia to go forward will further jeopardize the prospects for peace.
It will prolong the dramatic impacts on the global economy, especially developing countries and hinder our ability to deliver life-saving aid across Ukraine and beyond.
It is high time to step back from the brink.
Now more than ever, we must work together to end this devastating and senseless war and uphold the UN Charter and international law.
Thank you.
1 of 5
Press Release
30 September 2022
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with the Government and oblast authorities to repair and insulate damaged homes before the winter comes
Borodianka, Ukraine – Today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, Iryna Vereshchuk and UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing visited homes in the Borodianka raion of Kyiv oblast. The homes, which were damaged during shelling earlier this year, were repaired through the UNHCR housing programme in support of the local oblast authorities’ response.
Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February, almost 14 million people fled their homes in search of safety, and more than 800,000 families have had their homes destroyed or damaged in missile attacks and shelling.
In close coordination with the Ukrainian government, its local authorities and communities, UNHCR identifies families with specific vulnerabilities, like older age, disability or low income, who need support to repair their homes. This is part of UNHCR’s contribution to the collective effort to provide people with access to dignified and warm housing during the winter.
Following the visit to the families whose homes were repaired, the Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereschchuk said: “We see with our own eyes how the territories of the Kyiv region are being restored and revitalised. Our strategy is to help them rebuild as soon as possible, to ensure safety and to provide them with everything necessary. The residents must be protected and must have the opportunity to heat their homes, buy food or medicine, and receive the services they need. In the Reintegration Plan that we developed together with UNHCR we have clear directions and understanding: who is responsible for what. Here, you can see the results – people get help and know that they are not left alone.”
“The needs across Ukraine are enormous, and UNHCR is committed to doing its part of the joint effort to address these needs. As the winter temperatures can plummet as low as –20 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, UNHCR is racing to repair as many homes as possible before the winter starts so people can stay warm in their homes.” said Karolina Lindholm, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.
Note:
As part of its winterisation response, UNHCR aims to repair and insulate 8,200 houses through its programme of light and medium repairs, to create or improve 14,400 sleeping spaces in collective centres for IDPs who cannot return home and do not have the means to secure private accommodation. Some 337,000 people will receive cash support to cover increased costs associated with the winter period and 567,000 people will receive essential items like thermal blankets, thermoses and heaters. Overall, UNHCR aims to reach more than 940,000 vulnerable individuals in the winterization response to complement the Government’s efforts. For additional information please contact: Victoria Andrievska, Associate Communication/PI Officer, UNHCR Ukraine, andrievs@unhcr.org, +38(044) 288 9710.
As part of its winterisation response, UNHCR aims to repair and insulate 8,200 houses through its programme of light and medium repairs, to create or improve 14,400 sleeping spaces in collective centres for IDPs who cannot return home and do not have the means to secure private accommodation. Some 337,000 people will receive cash support to cover increased costs associated with the winter period and 567,000 people will receive essential items like thermal blankets, thermoses and heaters. Overall, UNHCR aims to reach more than 940,000 vulnerable individuals in the winterization response to complement the Government’s efforts. For additional information please contact: Victoria Andrievska, Associate Communication/PI Officer, UNHCR Ukraine, andrievs@unhcr.org, +38(044) 288 9710.
1 of 5
Press Release
29 September 2022
FRAUD ALERT: UN WARNS THE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS AND AID ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT SCAM SCHEMES USING THE NAME OF THE UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN FUND
These scams, which are seeking to obtain money and personal details for supposedly legal services to receive benefits from the United Nations are fraudulent.
OCHA, which manages the Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund, wishes to warn the public and aid organizations, civil society organization and volunteer groups about these fraudulent activities and strongly recommend that the recipients of such solicitations to not provide any personal details and to not pay any fee for any organization promising humanitarian assistance.
• The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage for humanitarian assistance.
• While United Nations organizations might ask for banking data to be able to transfer cash assistance, they will never ask for CVV (three-digit code on the card). Employees of partner organizations should not require it.
• Any citizen who provided the CVV to anyone, should contact his/her bank and block the card immediately. The case should be reported to the police.
OCHA wishes to use this opportunity to remind all Ukrainian citizens who need of assistance following seven months of war, that humanitarian aid is completely free. If someone asks you to pay, do something inappropriate or perform any favour or sexual action in exchange for help, say no and email seareferral@un.org or call our partner hotline 0-800-309-110 / 0-800-30-77-11 / 0-800-331-800.
*** Note to editors:
- Copy of the fraudulent correspondences can be found here.
1 of 5
Press Release
27 September 2022
UN Human Rights reports dire human rights situation seven months after the start of the Russian Federation wide-scale armed attack on Ukraine
These affect both civilians and combatants and include willful killings and numerous cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment, and conflict-related sexual violence.
“Hostilities continue to kill and injure civilians as well as destroy and damage civilian infrastructure. Attacks on civilian objects not only endanger the lives of civilians, but also leave them living in degrading conditions and undermine their rights to health, education, housing, food and water,” said Matilda Bogner, Head of HRMMU.
From 24 February until 25 September HRMMU has recorded 5,996 civilian deaths and 8,848 injuries, including 382 children killed. The actual figures are much higher, as the collection and verification of information from several locations affected by hostilities remain severely hindered.
The report states that 90% of civilian casualties were recorded in areas under Government control when the casualties occurred and 10% in parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions controlled by Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups. The majority of civilian casualties documented since 24 February were caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
During the reporting period, HRMMU continued to corroborate the alleged killings of hundreds of civilians by Russian armed forces while they controlled settlements in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions in February and March 2022. While most victims were men, they also included women and children.
According to the report, enforced disappearances and the arbitrary detention of local authorities, journalists, civil society activists and other civilians were widespread in territory controlled by Russian armed forces or affiliated armed groups, with 407 cases (359 men, 47 women and 1 boy) recorded during the reporting period. Among those cases, 18 victims (17 men and 1 woman) were eventually found dead. The report also highlights 47 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as 31 cases that may amount to enforced disappearance (28 men and 3 women) attributable to Ukrainian law enforcement bodies. The victims were people suspected of supporting Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups.
The report documents cases of torture and ill-treatment of civilian detainees by Russian armed forces. Out of 38 civilians released from detention (34 men and 4 women) and interviewed by HRMMU, 33 reported experiencing torture and ill-treatment while detained by Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups. The report also recorded 34 complaints of torture or ill-treatment in cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance reportedly perpetrated by law enforcement bodies of Ukraine.
“I stress that the prohibition of torture and arbitrary deprivation of life is absolute and applies in conflict and non-conflict settings to all persons, whether civilians or combatants. Perpetrators must be held accountable, and victims and their relatives must enjoy their rights to remedy and truth,” said Ms Bogner.
During the reporting period, HRMMU documented the rape of 8 women and 1 girl, 15 cases of sexual violence used as a method of torture or ill-treatment against men, 11 cases of forced public stripping against both men and women considered to be ‘lawbreakers’ and 8 cases of other forms of sexual violence, such as forced nudity, unwanted sexual touching, sexual abuse and threats of sexual violence. Thirty cases were committed by members of Russian armed forces, 2 cases were committed by members of Ukrainian armed forces or law enforcement bodies and 11 cases were committed by civilians or members of territorial defense units. Since the reporting period ended, HRMMU has verified 13 additional cases of sexual violence.
The report also covers the situation of prisoners of war. While during the reporting period, HRMMU enjoyed unimpeded access to places of internment for prisoners of war in territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine, it was not granted confidential access to any place of internment for prisoners of war in the Russian Federation or territory controlled by Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups. However, HRMMU found that in the vast majority of documented cases, Ukrainian prisoners of war were subjected to torture or cruel and degrading treatment by the detaining power. HRMMU also documented the death of two Ukrainian servicemen as a result of torture.
“Such mistreatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war appears to be systematic, not only upon their capture, but also following their transfer to places of internment both in territory of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation and in the Russian Federation itself. This is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and the Russian Federation must address it,” Ms Bogner added.
HRMMU also found that some Russian prisoners of war were subjected to torture and ill-treatment by members of the Ukrainian armed forces mostly during their capture or while in transit to places of internment.
“There must be timely and effective investigations into all allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, including torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and sexual violence. Regardless of their affiliation, perpetrators, including persons in positions of command, need to be duly prosecuted,” said Ms Bogner.
The report also describes the so-called process of ‘filtration’ of civilians by Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups. HRMMU received numerous allegations that men and women who were perceived as having ties with Ukrainian armed forces or state institutions, or as having pro-Ukrainian or anti-Russian views, were subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, ill-treatment, and enforced disappearance.
While the report welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ukraine to investigate and prosecute violations of international humanitarian law and of international human rights law perpetrated in the context of the ongoing armed attack by the Russian Federation, it also documents numerous fair trial violations. The report also finds that ‘courts’ in self-proclaimed ‘republics’ sentenced civilians for conflict-related crimes in proceedings that lacked transparency, independence and impartiality.
According to the report, the hostilities have severely impacted the rights of people and groups in situations of vulnerability, including persons with disabilities and older persons, the majority of whom are women. HRMMU documented that in areas affected by hostilities, these groups lacked access to healthcare, adequate housing, heating, water and electricity.
During the reporting period, 17 journalists and media workers, including bloggers, were killed. Ten of them were killed amidst active hostilities, while others were found dead in areas previously or currently controlled by Russian armed forces or affiliated armed groups. The report emphasizes that freedom of expression, including access to media, has been restricted in areas occupied by the Russian Federation or controlled by Russian armed forces or affiliated armed groups.
“We are concerned that the shrinking civic space and highly restrictive environment in areas occupied by the Russian Federation deter people from reporting the human rights violations they have experienced or witnessed,” Ms Bogner said.
The report notes a deterioration of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (“Crimea”), occupied by the Russian Federation since 2014. The Russian Federation continues to clamp down on freedom of expression by applying restrictive, vague and ill-defined legislation, penalizing a wide spectrum of real or perceived criticism of the Russian Federation or its armed forces. HRMMU has documented the prosecution of 89 individuals in Crimea for “public actions directed at discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation” since the legislation was introduced in March 2022.
The report provides specific recommendations to the governments of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as to the international community, and calls for their swift implementation to improve the human rights situation in the country, better protect civilians and strengthen accountability.
“We will continue to document and report the facts on the ground and give a voice to victims. We consider this to be an essential part of seeking to prevent further violations and hold those responsible accountable for the violations already committed,” Ms Bogner concluded.
HRMMU continues to seek first-hand information concerning international humanitarian law and human rights violations, and encourages victims and witnesses to contact:
E-mail: ohchr-HRMMUinfo@un.org
HRMMU on Facebook: write to us on Facebook messenger Моніторингова місія ООН з прав людини / UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission
HRMMU on Telegram: ohchr_hrmmu (only messages, calls disabled)
HRMMU on Viber: +380503746708 (only messages, calls disabled)
ENDS
The full text of the 34rd periodic report on the human rights situation in Ukraine (which covers the period from 1 February 2022 to 31 July 2022) is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
For more information or media enquiries, please contact Tanya Korol at +380503868069 or e-mail tetiana.korol@un.org
1 of 5
Press Release
26 September 2022
Call for applications for receiving sleeves for grain storage starts through the State Agrarian Registry
26 September 2022, Kyiv – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food (MAPF) announce the start of registration for receiving temporary grain storage equipment (sleeves) of 200 tons each. The programme is implemented with the financial support of the governments of Canada and Japan, and the Australian philanthropic organization Minderoo Foundation.
“Providing such assistance to Ukrainian farmers is part of the FAO Grain Storage Support Strategy, the purpose of which is to address the grain storage deficit,” said Pierre Vauthier, head of the FAO Ukraine office. “This is a critical intervention, the objective of which is to support Ukrainian farmers and contribute to global food security.”
In total, FAO and the Ministry will distribute 30 000 polyethylene grain sleeves. The grain storage equipment will be available for agriproducers: legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who cultivate land on the territory of Ukraine, except for temporarily occupied ones.
“The number of sleeves that the farmer will receive will be calculated according to the number of applications received and in proportion to the area of cultivated land," said Markiyan Dmytrasevych, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.
Applications for participation in the programme have to be submitted through the State Agrarian Registry (SAR). Thanks to this system, farmers do not need to send a physical copy of the application or deliver it, and then check the correctness. It is enough to sign in to the personal electronic account at home, choose among the available support programmes the FAO programme to provide temporary grain storage equipment (sleeves), and fill in the appropriate electronic form.
The main criteria for programme participants:
- land area under official cultivation (owned or leased) is from 100 to 10 000 hectares;
- use the received sleeves exclusively for storage of their own-grown products;
- the cultivated lands must be located in the government-controlled territories of Ukraine;
- self-delivery of grain sleeves from warehouses in their or in the neighboring oblast (from Dnipropetrovska oblast for agricultural producers from Donetska, Luhanska or Zaporizka oblasts, or from Mykolaivska oblast for agricultural producers from Khersonska oblast).
Small and medium-sized agricultural producers are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application call will be open for two weeks till 9 October. After review and analysing of all received applications, the programme participants will receive confirmation of assistance via DAR, and will also be notified of the address of the warehouse for self-delivery of sleeves to the territory of the agrarian enterprise.
In addition, FAO and the Ministry will hold an introductory webinar where farmers will be able to ask any questions regarding registration and participation in the support programme.
Date and time: 28 September 2022, 15:00 (Kyiv time)
Link: https://fao.zoom.us/j/92374064545
If you have additional questions or feedback, please contact us via the hotline contacts:
- Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – regarding participation in the support programme:
+38 099 090 7582; +38 068 318 0943; UA-Feedback@fao.org
- Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food – on technical issues related to the registration through the SAR system:
+38 044 339 9215; support@dar.gov.ua
LINKS
FAO in Emergencies: War in Ukraine
Ukraine: FAO, Canada join forces to address grain storage deficit
Ukraine: FAO scales up efforts to save upcoming harvest, ensure export of vital grains
Minderoo Foundation contributes to FAO’s Grain Storage Support Strategy
Contact
Viktoriia Mykhalchuk
FAO Ukraine Communication Coordinator
(+38) 098 605 5061 Viktoriia.Mykhalchuk@fao.org Journalists & editors:
For video, photos, audio clips contact: (+39) 06 570 53625 or FAO-newsroom@fao.org.
Online tools:
Footage download via FAO Media Vault
Photos via the FAOnews Flickr account
FAO's online newsroom
RSS feed of FAO news releases
Follow us on Twitter: @FAOUkraine
(+38) 098 605 5061 Viktoriia.Mykhalchuk@fao.org Journalists & editors:
For video, photos, audio clips contact: (+39) 06 570 53625 or FAO-newsroom@fao.org.
Online tools:
Footage download via FAO Media Vault
Photos via the FAOnews Flickr account
FAO's online newsroom
RSS feed of FAO news releases
Follow us on Twitter: @FAOUkraine
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
1 / 11