Ukraine update UNHCR WHO 21 May 2024
/
2:09
/
MP4
/
241.6 MB

Edited News | UNHCR , WHO

Ukraine update UNHCR WHO 21 May 2024

Ukraine: humanitarian, health needs soar as Kharkiv hostilities intensify

The UN expressed new concerns on Tuesday over a rise in displacement and humanitarian needs in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, amid “relentless” Russian air and ground attacks.

UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told the Press in Geneva that in the past week, more than 10,300 people were evacuated from their villages in Kharkiv region’s border areas by Ukrainian authorities with the help of volunteers and humanitarian organizations. She stressed that the majority of the evacuees are “highly vulnerable” people – the elderly, people with low mobility or disabilities – who were not able to flee their homes earlier.

According to UN humanitarian affairs coordination office, OCHA, over 16,000 people are estimated to have fled the most affected localities in the Kharkiv region since 10 May, amid reports that Russian forces have made significant advances in recent days.

Ms. Mantoo expressed concern that conditions in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, which already hosts some 200,000 internally displaced people, “could become even more difficult if the ground offensive and relentless aerial attacks continue”.

“This could force many people to leave Kharkiv for safety and survival, seeking protection elsewhere,” she said.

The UNHCR spokesperson highlighted the fact that attacks on energy infrastructure are “particularly critical” in Kharkiv, where the energy supply is already “well below standard capacity” and households suffer from power shortages.

Meanwhile, OCHA reported that the past three days have seen daily attacks in Kharkiv City resulting in “scores of civilian casualties including children”, according to local authorities on Sunday, “as well as an ambulance hit and a paramedic injured when two strikes reportedly impacted the same location in close succession”.

Speaking from Kyiv, UN World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Ukraine Dr. Jarno Habicht said that since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, “on average, 200 ambulances per year are damaged or destroyed in shelling attacks”.

“That is a tremendous loss, depriving the Ukrainian people of urgent care,” he insisted.

Overall, WHO has recorded more than 1,700 attacks on health in the country since February 2022, Dr. Habicht said.

The UN health agency representative added that some 10 million people in the country likely suffer from mental health conditions, while more than 20,000 amputations have been conducted since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion – “two areas [which] need support from many humanitarian and development partners, and in the long term”.

While the intensification in hostilities in the Kharkiv region has driven humanitarian needs up “exponentially”, Dr. Habicht also highlighted the need to “think medium term to get ready for the winter to come”.

To ensure Ukraine's health care system can “continue functioning amidst prolonged adversity”, WHO has begun installing heating units in hospitals, including in Chernihiv and Odesa in the coming days and weeks, Dr. Habicht said.

But addressing both immediate and medium-term needs and preparing the winter response has been a challenge due to a drop in humanitarian funding for Ukraine compared to the past two years.

According to OCHA, the UN’s $3.1 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the country in 2024 remains only 23 per cent funded. UNHCR’s response in Ukraine and in neighbouring refugee-hosting countries is only 16 per cent funded, which, at the approach of the mid-year mark, is “abysmal”, Ms. Mantoo said.

- Ends -

STORY: Ukraine update: UNHCR – WHO

TRT: 2:09”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 21 MAY 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley

2. Wide shot: speakers at the podium of the press conference

3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “In the past week, more than 10,300 people were evacuated from their villages in Kharkiv region’s border areas by Ukrainian authorities with the help of volunteers and humanitarian organizations. The majority of the evacuees, who had to escape their homes with only a few belongings, are already highly vulnerable and include mainly older people. There are also people with low mobility or disabilities who were not able to flee their homes earlier.

4. Wide lateral shot: Speakers at podium from behind; journalists in the press room

5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “UNHCR is concerned that conditions in Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second largest city, which is already hosting some 200,000 internally displaced people – could become even more difficult if the ground offensive and relentless aerial attacks continue. This could force many people to leave Kharkiv for safety and survival, seeking protection elsewhere.

6. Wide lateral shot: Speakers at podium from behind; journalists in the press room

7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dr. Jarno Habicht, UN World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Ukraine:Since the start of Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, on average, 200 ambulances per year are damaged or destroyed in shelling attacks. That is a tremendous loss, depriving the Ukrainian people of urgent care.

8. Wide shot: Journalists in the press room

9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dr. Jarno Habicht, UN World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Ukraine:Ten million people are estimated to suffer from some sort of mental health conditions, and with more than 20,000 amputations conducted since Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion in 2022, these are two areas [which] need support from many humanitarian and development partners, and in the long term.

10. Wide lateral shot: Speaker on screen in the press room; journalists in the press room

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Jarno Habicht, UN World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Ukraine: “From one hand, we have attacks in Kharkiv, much more difficult situation than before, but at the same time we need to think medium term to get ready for the winter to come.”

12. Close shot: Journalists in the press room

13. Medium shot: Journalists in the press room

14. Wide shot: Journalists, cameraman and people in the gallery of the press room.


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 1
Download Ukraine update UNHCR WHO 21 May 2024
Download

Similar Stories

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani  urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis  - UN humanitarians

Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount

Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday,  But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi

1

1

1

Edited News

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi ENG FRA

A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | ITU

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025 ENG FRA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OCHA

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege

Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America ENG FRA

Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.   

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO

In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians

Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian blockade  OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza humanitarian blockade OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN Humanitarians reject Israeli plan to take over aid delivery

The reported Israeli proposal to deliver humanitarian supplies through hubs controlled by the military would be a breach of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.

 

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News , B-roll | OCHA

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA

Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/