Ukraine's demographic crisis UNFPA - 22 October 2024
/
2:03
/
MP4
/
238.8 MB
Transcripts
Teleprompter
Download

Edited News | UNFPA

Ukraine's demographic crisis UNFPA 22 October 2024

Story:

Ukraine: as birthrates plummet and population declines, a new strategy is announced

Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 world attention has focused largely on the military, political and humanitarian aspects of the war. Meanwhile, a silent emergency has been brewing: Ukraine's demographics.

Prior to the war, Ukraine already faced significant population challenges, common to much of the Eastern European region: it had one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, with people leaving the country in search of better opportunities, and an ageing population in overall decline.

Russia’s full-scale invasion — which has now lasted nearly 1,000 days — made things much worse, according to UN population expert Florence Bauer.

“The birth rate plummeted to one child per woman – the lowest fertility rate in Europe and one of the lowest in the world,” Ms. Bauer said, speaking to reporters in Geneva.

A Huge Loss in Human Capital

As a direct consequence of the war, millions of people have been displaced, both inside Ukraine’s borders and externally, with some 6.7 million earning refugee status. Further declines in population have been brought on by casualties from the conflict, and the exodus of young people from many regions in the country, with severe consequences for the economy.

“Overall, Ukraine’s population has declined by over 10 million since the beginning of the war in 2014 and by an estimated 8 million since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022,” Ms. Bauer, the Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), explained.

“This also presents a huge loss in human capital – human capital that is urgently needed for recovery and for building Ukraine’s future,” she added.

A New Strategy for Ukraine’s population

To address these challenges, the government of Ukraine, with the support of UNFPA, has developed and recently adopted a new national demographic strategy. The plan focuses on building human capital, recognising the importance of socio-economic factors, and promoting gender equality.

“Ukraine has made progress, such as the 2021 law promoting shared caregiving roles by ensuring equal childcare responsibilities for fathers,” Ms. Bauer said in acknowledgement of past efforts by the Government of Ukraine. “But much more needs to be done,” she emphasised.

To help Ukraine recover UNFPA is recommending that a national population census be organised as soon as possible. Ukraine’s last population count was conducted in 2001, making much of the available data obsolete.

The UN Population Fund says it is recommending approaches aimed at achieving demographic sustainability in Ukraine, which would be based on gender inclusivity, overcoming stereotypes, and fostering economic opportunities. But none of these are likely to be achieved without peace in Ukraine, Ms. Bauer acknowledged.

-ends-

STORY: Ukraine's demographic crisis - UNFPA

TRT: 02’03’’

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 22 OCTOBER 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Exterior wide shot: Palais des Nations, Flag Alley.

2. Wide shot: Speaker at the podium of the press conference; speaker on screens; journalists in the Press room.

3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Florence Bauer, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia: “The birthrate plummeted and is currently at around one child per woman, which is one of the lowest in the world.”

4. Wide lateral shot: Journalists in the Press room; speaker on screens.

5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Florence Bauer, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia: “We have millions of people who have been displaced. We know there is internally displaced people, and we have 6.7 million that are externally displaced refugees. Some regions have been mostly depopulated, with young people leaving this region and some old people staying, and a significant number of people have died due to the conflict and, of the war.”

6. Wide shot: Journalists in the Press room; speaker on screens.

7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Florence Bauer, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia: “Overall, what we can see is that the Ukrainian population has declined by over 10 million since the beginning of the war. It also represent a massive loss of human capital that, as we know, is so key for the recovery and for building Ukraine's future.”

8. Medium shot: Press briefing participants in the Press room.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Florence Bauer, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia: “The government of Ukraine has developed and recently adopted national demographic strategies to address these challenges. It's a strategy that takes into account experiences from other countries, that have been now really focusing on increasing birth rate and that have failed. And instead it's looking into a comprehensive approach and putting a human capital at the center.”

10. Medium shot: Journalist behind the camera in the Press Room.

11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Florence Bauer, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia: “Ukraine's path to demographic sustainability and resilience would be quite comprehensive approaches that focus as well on gender inclusivity and overcoming stereotypes and fostering economic opportunities for all citizens. And it will, of course, also be key to create environment for families and individuals so that they can navigate those demographic trends. And of course, above everything, a lot hinges on whether peace will return to Ukraine.”

12. Wide lateral shot: Journalists in the Press room; speaker on screens.

13. Medium shot: Journalists in the Press room.


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 1
Download Ukraine's demographic crisis UNFPA - 22 October 2024
Download

Similar Stories

Gaza update report – OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Gaza update report – OHCHR ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence & Ajith Sunghay, Head of UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, on Gaza

Sudan crisis - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR

Sudan crisis - UNHCR ENG FRA

Sudan’s displaced have endured “unimaginable suffering” in their search for shelter from the country’s ongoing war, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

‘Exceptional achievement’: Humanitarians reach over 105,000 with polio vaccine in north Gaza

Despite ongoing attacks and access challenges, humanitarians have managed to inoculate over 105,000 children in north Gaza with the second and final dose of the oral polio vaccine, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.  

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA ENG FRA

UN aid teams prepared to enter northern Gaza at the weekend to resume a mass polio vaccination campaign, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said on Friday.

Lebanon update OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Lebanon update OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

Lebanon: widescale displacement continues amid ongoing bombing

In south and east Lebanon civilians continue to face airstrikes, mass forced displacement and deprivation as the fight between Israel and Hezbollah militia goes on against the backdrop of war in Gaza.

In recent days, an estimated 50,000 people have left Baalbek heading mostly to areas in the north of the Bekaa Valley, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office (OCHA). 

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State - OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State - OHCHR ENG FRA

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State adds to the dire displacement crisis in the country

UNCTAD Press conference 29 October 2024

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference 29 October 2024 ENG FRA

Publication of the Trade and Development Report 2024: Rethinking Development in the Age of Discontent 

Knesset UNRWA vote – UN reaction IOM – OCHA – UNICEF – WHO – OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , OCHA , UNICEF , WHO , OHCHR

Knesset UNRWA vote – UN reaction IOM – OCHA – UNICEF – WHO – OHCHR ENG FRA

‘If UNRWA can’t operate, humanitarian system in Gaza will collapse’ – UN

The UN humanitarian and human rights community reacted forcefully on Tuesday to the vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), warning of the devastating impact on millions of Palestinians who depend on it.

WMO Press conference 28 October 2024

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO

WMO Press conference 28 October 2024 ENG FRA

New data released by the UN on Monday indicating that greenhouse gases have hit a record high shows once again that urgent action and not words is needed from the world’s major polluters to protect us all from climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) insisted.

Middle East update WHO – UNICEF – UNHCR  25 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNHCR

Middle East update WHO – UNICEF – UNHCR 25 October 2024 ENG FRA

Gaza’s sick and injured face new attacks on health care, lethal evacuation delays – UN humanitarians

Amid reports of a new Israeli military raid on a Gaza hospital on Friday morning - and ongoing hostilities hindering polio vaccination in the north of the Strip - UN humanitarians pleaded again for the protection of health facilities and urgent medical evacuation of critically ill patients.

Middle East update UNIFIL - OCHA - UNICEF - 18 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , UNIFIL

Middle East update UNIFIL - OCHA - UNICEF - 18 October 2024 ENG FRA

UN peacekeepers determined to stay in south Lebanon, while humanitarians report more civilian suffering in Gaza and West Bank

UN peacekeepers are keeping their positions in South Lebanon despite heavy shelling and targeted attacks; their commitment to bringing back stability to the region is unwavering, the UN said on Friday.

Tunisia human rights situation

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Tunisia human rights situation ENG FRA

Volker Türk calls on Tunisia to uphold rule of law and democratic freedoms, following pre-electoral context marred by human rights concerns

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today called on the Tunisian authorities to protect the country’s democratic processes and uphold fundamental freedoms after a presidential campaign marred by a crackdown on the opposition, independent activists and journalists.