UN warns about reduction of international aid to Ukraine
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (Photo: Getty Images)
Almost two years after the start of the Russian aggressive war, the UN refugee agency classifies the humanitarian situation in Ukraine as very serious and warns that aid will decrease, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi stated in the interview.
"Every day, there are airstrikes along the front line and cities. And with each strike, they bring destruction that affects the civilian population. Many people lose their homes or become internally displaced," he said.
The Ukrainian society showed itself to be very strong and united after the Russian attack, but after two years, tension became noticeable. "These fault lines are becoming visible, and, of course, there is a risk that they will grow as international support in all its forms diminishes," Grandi said.
He reported that the work of UNHCR(United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and other aid agencies was well funded in 2022 and 2023. However, this year, there is a threat of cuts. The war in Ukraine has lost international attention, and the conflict in the Gaza Strip dominates the headlines. The amount of assistance to Ukraine has not yet been determined in the three main donors – Germany, the United States, and the EU.
"The priority is at home, repairs - everything that gives people shelter," Grandi said about UNHCR's work in Ukraine. "Install new windows because windows are constantly being destroyed. It is unpleasant to do this constantly because there is always new damage." Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, UNHCR, other humanitarian organizations, and Ukrainian agencies have repaired 27.5 thousand houses.
According to Grandi, according to UN estimates, there are 3.7 million internally displaced persons and another 6.3 million refugees in other countries in Ukraine. "Ten million people do not live in their homes," the High Commissioner stated. This also includes 1.3 million Ukrainians in Russia, according to Moscow. UNHCR's access to them is "very limited but not zero." They have connected with 70-80 thousand people through visits and phone calls.
UN assistance to Ukraine
Recall that the UN and its partners have appealed to donors to provide a total of $4.2 billion to support war-torn communities in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in 2024.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that over 14.6 million people, or 40% of Ukraine's population, will need humanitarian assistance this year due to Russia's full-scale invasion.
According to the UN, at the end of 2022, 5.7 million Ukrainians fled to neighboring countries, creating the fastest displacement crisis and one of the largest since World War II.
