UN humanitarians bring aid to millions as the escalating war is taking a heavy toll on civilians

As the fighting continues unabated in Ukraine with devastating impact on communities particularly in the east and south of the country, UN humanitarian partners confirmed on Friday that they have continued to scale up urgently needed assistance.

Priority needs include providing more people with access to clean water and hygiene products as well as with emergency shelter and protection services.

“The escalating war is taking a heavy toll on civilians who live close to the frontlines, people who cannot go back to their homes, and people across the country living under almost daily threats of attacks,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at a news briefing at the UN in Geneva. “‘Mine contamination’ is also a threat to farmers trying to return to their land and humanitarians delivering assistance,” he added.

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) estimates that on average more than 50 people are killed or injured by mines per month. The total number of casualties in Ukraine due to mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in 2023 is 263 killed or injured. However, actual figures might be considerably higher, OHCHR data indicates.

According to OCHA, humanitarian assistance has been provided by hundreds of humanitarian organizations working with local groups and community-based volunteers who play a vital role in getting the assistance delivered to the last mile.

Assistance has included cash to more than 2.1 million people and food for 3.5 million people, while nearly three million gained access to health services and medicines, said OCHA.

“By the end of April, we had reached 5.4 million people this year, around 800,000 people more than the total number assisted by the end of March. More than 60 per cent of those reached are women and girls,” said Mr. Laerke.

However, delivering vital humanitarian aid to villages and towns near the frontlines continues to be challenging.

“Assistance to areas under Russian military control remains extremely limited,” said OCHA’s spokesperson. “This year, because of the worsening security situation and shifts in the frontlines, humanitarian partners have lost access to almost 60,000 people in around 40 towns and villages close to the frontlines in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.” 

At a scheduled briefing in Geneva, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported that the needs of people still directly affected by the war continue to grow. Speaking via Zoom from Budapest, IFRC’s Europe Regional Director Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen  said that “people displaced inside Ukraine are struggling with a lack of income and increased stress levels. And we have also seen deteriorating mental health conditions during our psychosocial support activities.”

Since 24 February 2022, more than eight million people have fled Ukraine to seek safety abroad. “People outside Ukraine are struggling financially. They have used up their savings now and lots of them have mounting debts. In many countries, the Red Cross societies are providing cash assistance to people in need,” Ms. Ebbesen added.

-ends-

STORY: Ukraine Humanitarian Needs- OCHA - IFRC 

TRT: 01’59”   

SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
RELEASE DATE: 26 May 2023
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND


SHOTLIST   

1. Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva. 
2. Wide shot of podium, speakers, journalists, conference room, Palais des Nations, Geneva   
3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “The escalating war is taking a heavy toll on civilians who live close to the frontlines, people who cannot go back to their homes, and people across the country living under almost daily threats of attacks. ‘Mine contamination’ is also a threat to farmers trying to return to their land and humanitarians delivering assistance.” 
4. Medium shot: journalists, laptops 
5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “By the end of April, we had reached 5.4 million people this year, around 800,000 people more than the total number assisted by the end of March. More than 60 per cent of those reached are women and girls.” 
6. Close-up: journalists in conference room 
7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Assistance to areas under Russian military control remains extremely limited. This year, because of the worsening security situation, and shifts in the frontlines, humanitarian partners have lost access to almost 60,000 people in around 40 towns and villages close to the frontlines in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.” 
8. Wide shot: journalists, with speakers visible on monitor in background 
9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen, IFRC Europe regional director: “People displaced inside Ukraine are struggling with a lack of income, and increased stress levels. And we have also seen deteriorating mental health conditions during our psychosocial support activities. People outside Ukraine are struggling financially. They have used up their savings now, and lots of them have mounting debts. In many countries, the Red Cross societies are providing cash assistance to people in need.” 
10. Medium shot: journalists in room 
11. Wide shot: speaker, laptops in foreground 
12. Close up: journalist typing