HUMANITARIANS REACHED 7.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN UKRAINE WITH VITAL AID IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2023

Over the past few days, Ukraine has again made the headlines worldwide – for all the wrong reasons – following the Russian Federation’s decision to terminate the crucial Black Sea Initiative and the wave of attacks on the civilian Port of Odesa.

Fighting and hostilities here, however, have been as intense as ever over the past months, and although its humanitarian impact is not always captured at the same level, the truth is that the war continues to devastate the lives of civilians, particularly those living close to the front line.

In eastern and southern Ukraine, people struggle to access essential items and services, including vital water and food, life-saving health services, or even materials to repair their damaged homes. Children’s vaccinations have been impacted, and their right to go to school cannot be taken for granted.

Since the escalation of the war in February 2022, the UN and our humanitarian partners have worked intensively to ensure people suffering from the consequences of this ferocious war can get some support, some relief. Last year, 16 million people in Ukraine received assistance from the UN and our partners.

This work continues in 2023 and in the first six months of the year, humanitarians provided vital aid and protection services to nearly 7.3 million people. This is almost 2 million more than what we reported in May. Regrettably, only 4 per cent of the people reached live in areas under the military control of the Russian Federation, as impediments imposed on aid workers hamper life-saving activities in these areas.

Across the country, critical health care – as we all know these services have been decimated in the east and south – was provided to 5 million people and around 3 million people had access to clean water and hygiene products amidst increased shortages, particularly in areas affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.

Humanitarian partners have also provided food to over 3.7 million people and reached 3.3 million people with emergency shelter or critical household items. Around 1 million children who fled their homes and whose schools are not fully functional have received support to continue their education. Our colleagues providing protection services, including counselling, legal services, mine-awareness campaigns and services to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors reached more than 1 million people.

And last but not least, 2.5 million people – including over 20,000 people affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam – have received multipurpose cash assistance, crucial support for people whose income and livelihoods have been impacted by the war.

This work, however, is not carried out without challenges. Intensified hostilities and fighting along the entire front line, as well as impediments and obstacles imposed on aid organizations have further impacted humanitarian access in Ukraine in the first six months of 2023, making it increasingly challenging and unpredictable.

At least five humanitarian workers were killed in the line of duty in Ukraine in the first six months of 2023, compared to four fatalities recorded in all of 2022, and nearly 100 incidents impacting humanitarian operations were reported, more than half of them with a moderate or severe impact on the delivery of assistance. This is an average of one incident every other day, highlighting the complex environment humanitarian organizations in Ukraine face. And, as mentioned before, access to Ukrainians in areas currently under the military control of the Russian Federation continues to be a challenge. The humanitarian community remains firmly committed to continuing all efforts to deliver support where it is needed the most.

To this end, support from the international community is crucial. Just below 30 per cent of the US$3.9 billion requested in the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan has been received by humanitarian organizations in Ukraine. Aid workers in Ukraine urgently need more funding now to ensure life-saving operations will not stop.

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Saviano Abreu

Spokesperson, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Kyiv, 22 July 2023