Ukraine: human suffering "at intolerable levels" - OCHA | United Nations

Описание: UN Security Council briefing by Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

"Regrettably, two and a half years since the escalation of this war, the situation only continues to worsen. The death toll is mounting. Human suffering continues at intolerable levels.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports that since 24 February 2022, over 11,700 civilians have been killed. More than 24,600 civilians have been injured.

And across the country, 10 million people have now been forced to flee their homes.

Since 26 August, large-scale attacks and relentless missile and drone strikes have continued across Ukraine. More civilians, including children, have been killed and injured. And more essential infrastructure has been damaged".

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"Large-scale and systematic strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continue to drastically reduce electricity capacity, causing millions of people countrywide to experience daily power cuts.

Outages often last many hours and limit access to water, sewage, heating, mobile networks, internet and public transportation.

They hinder the ability of hospitals and health facilities to operate. They add to the disruption of children’s education. The start of the new school year has been marred by constant attacks and damage to schools.

And they imperil vulnerable and marginalized groups, especially older people and those with limited mobility".

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"Civilians across Ukraine are spending endless hours in bomb shelters as air raid sirens sound, and as they wait for the missiles to stop. People living in regions along the front line often spend days on end sheltering from the fighting. And millions of Ukrainians face death, destruction and the fear of attack on a daily basis.

Nor should we ignore the disproportionate impact of the war on women and children, who continue to face additional barriers to accessing essential services, and increased risks to their safety, including from gender-based violence".

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"This war has gone on far too long. It has caused immense suffering and left more than 14.6 million people, or 40 per cent of Ukraine’s population, in need of humanitarian assistance.

As it escalates, its toll will only increase. Protecting civilians, and ultimately ending this war, is a matter of will.

As Heads of State and Government leaders prepare to attend the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, opening today, I once again call on Council members – indeed all Member States – to seize every opportunity to secure the decisions that will spare civilians, and finally bring this war to an end".