Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Ukraine Crisis Update OHCHR-WHO-UNHCR-IOM 11 March 2022
/
2:30
/
MP4
/
184.5 MB

Edited News | OHCHR , UNHCR , WHO , IOM

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Ukraine Crisis Update OHCHR-WHO-UNHCR-IOM 11 March 2022

The UN rights office, OHCHR, reiterated deep concern on Friday at the increasing number of civilian casualties in Ukraine following the Russian invasion on 24 February, before issuing a reminder to Moscow that any targeting of non-combatants could be a war crime.

“Civilians are being killed and maimed in what appear to be indiscriminate attacks, with Russian forces using explosive weapons with wide area effects in or near populated areas,” said OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell, speaking in Geneva. “These include missiles, heavy artillery shells and rockets, as well as airstrikes.”

Fifteen days into the war, schools, hospitals and nurseries have been hit by shelling, Ms. Throssell said, adding that cluster bombs had also been used in several populated areas.

Up to midnight on 9 March, OHCHR recorded 549 civilians killed and 957 injured in Ukraine, but the knowledge that mass graves have had to be dug to bury the dead indicates that the true figure is likely far higher.

“On 3 March, 47 civilians were killed when Russian airstrikes hit two schools and several apartment blocks in Chernihiv,” Ms. Throssell said. “On 9 March, a Russian airstrike hit Mariupol Hospital No.3 injuring at least 17 civilians. We are still investigating reports that at least three civilians may have been killed in the airstrike. We spoke to different sources in Mariupol, including local authorities, indicating consistently that the hospital was both clearly identifiable and operational when it was hit.”

The UN World Health Organization (WHO), also condemned early reports of an attack by Russian forces on a psychiatric hospital near Kharkiv.

“There are just reports from this morning from Kharkiv, authorities that (a) psychiatric institute has been attacked. If this proves to be true, this would be yet another effect on health in Ukraine,” said Tarik Jasarevic, WHO spokesperson, speaking from Lviv in western Ukraine.

“According to these authorities, in this particular institute, there are 300 people that are staying there and then some 50 and so who are unable to move.”

To date, the WHO has confirmed 26 attacks on health care facilities, which have resulted in 12 verified deaths - including two health workers - and 34 people injured.

Condemning all such targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, OHCHR’s Ms. Throssell issued a direct message to Moscow: “We remind the Russian authorities that directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called bombardment in towns and villages and other forms of indiscriminate attacks, are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes.”

With more than 2.5 million refugees from the war now sheltering across Ukraine’s borders, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson, Matthew Saltmarsh, explained how a massive humanitarian aid operation has kicked in, inside the country.

“In Central and western Ukraine, we're still operational,” he said, speaking from Rzeszów, Poland, noting that there are now at least two million internally displaced people inside the country and an additional 12.65 million people directly affected by the conflict, who are “contending with freezing temperatures”.

The UNHCR spokesperson added that prepositioned stocks and incoming core relief items were ready for distribution “in various locations across the country”. The UN agency has also opened warehouses in Vinnytsia, Uzhhorod and Chernivtsi, along with two in Lviv.

Access to conflict-affected communities in cities including Mariupol and Kharkiv is “very restricted due to the ongoing military activities and increased presence of landmines, exacerbating humanitarian needs by the day”, Mr. Saltmarsh explained. He noted that UNHCR staff on the ground were caught up in the fighting, just like the civilian population. “Food, water, medicines and medical care, shelter, basic household items, blankets, mattresses, cash, building materials, generators and fuel are urgently needed,” he said.

Among those seeking safety away from shelling and bombing in Ukraine, some 116,000 third-country nationals have now managed to leave the country, according to UN migration agency, IOM. “Dozens of our Member States have reached out in recent days, making requests for over 14,000 returns of third-country nationals from the neighbouring states. So, it is a huge issue,” said Paul Dillon, spokesperson, International Organization for Migration.

The development comes as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) released alarming global food security implications because of the war in Ukraine, prompted by Russia’s self-styled “special military operation”.

According to a new WFP report, the war will likely negatively impact food and fuel prices, which in particular threaten vulnerable countries and the agency’s own humanitarian operations.

Echoing those concerns, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Friday that international food prices had already reached an all-time high before the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves across international markets.

This was mostly owing to market conditions, but also high prices of energy, fertilizers and all other agricultural services, FAO chief Qu Dongyu told an extraordinary meeting of agriculture ministers from the G7 group of wealthy nations.

The FAO Food Price Index mirrored this in February 2022 when it “reached a new historical record - 21 per cent above its level a year earlier, and 2.2 per cent higher than its previous peak in February 2011,” the FAO Director-General added.

“The crisis represents a challenge for food security for many countries, and especially for low-income food-import dependent countries and vulnerable population groups,” he said.

According to FAO, wheat exports by Russia and Ukraine account for about 30 per cent of the global market, while their combined sunflower oil exports represent 55 per cent.

Both countries are also prominent exporters of maize, barley and rapeseed oil and Russia is a key exporter of fertilizers - ranking as the top exporter of nitrogen fertilizers in 2020, the second leading supplier of potassium, and the third largest exporter of phosphorous fertilizer.

ends

STORY: Ukraine Crisis Update – OHCHR, WHO, UNHCR, IOM

TRT: 2 mins 30s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 11 March 2022 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot, UN flag alley UN Geneva.
  2. Wide shot, Press room, UN Geneva, podium speakers and participants seated.
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Liz Throssell, spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Civilians are being killed and maimed in what appear to be indiscriminate attacks, with Russian forces using explosive weapons with wide area effects in or near populated areas. These include missiles, heavy artillery shells and rockets, as well as airstrikes.”
  4. Medium shot, from behind podium, participants to rear.
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson, World Health Organisation (WHO): “There are just reports from this morning from Kharkiv, authorities that (a) psychiatric institute has been attacked. If this proves to be true, this would be yet another effect on health in Ukraine.”
  6. Wide shot, Press room, UN Geneva, podium speakers and participants seated.
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson, World Health Organisation (WHO): “According to these authorities, in this particular institute, there are 300 people that are staying there and then some 50 and so who are unable to move.”
  8. Close-up, laptop screen showing speaker in the foreground, podium speaker to rear.
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Liz Throssell, spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We remind the Russian authorities that directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called bombardment in towns and villages and other forms of indiscriminate attacks, are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes.”
  10. Medium shot, masked participants following proceedings and taking notes on notebook.
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “In Central and western Ukraine, we're still operational. We're making prepositioned stocks, as well as incoming core relief items available to be distributed in various locations across the country, we've opened warehouses in Vinnytsia, Uzhhorod and Chernivtsi and also two in Lviv.”
  12. Medium shot, TV screen showing WHO speaker in foreground with participants and studio lighting to rear.
  13. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “In Ukraine, the UN estimates that there are now at least two million internally displaced people and an additional 12.65 million people directly affected by the conflict. They're also contending with freezing temperatures.”
  14. Medium shot, masked participants listening and taking notes on the laptop.
  15. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Paul Dillon, spokesperson, International Organization for Migration (IOM): “Dozens of our Member States have reached out in recent days, making requests for over 14,000 returns of third-country nationals from the neighboring states. So, it is a huge issue.”
  16. Medium shot, masked participant listening and taking notes on the laptop.
  17. Medium shot, TV screen showing remote speaker in foreground with podium to rear, side shot.
  18. Medium shot, participants seated in the foreground, TV screen showing speakers and podium speaker to rear.

Similar Stories

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine ENG FRA

A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022. 

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF ENG FRA

Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur

Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025

2

1

2

Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025 ENG FRA

Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung ENG FRA

Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies related to the vital resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.