No end in sight’ to Ukraine war, UN political chief warns
Ms. Dicarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, has issued a grave warning about the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating that there seems to be no end in sight. The conflict has taken a devastating toll on the Ukrainian population, with a recent surge in violence resulting in a significant number of casualties and widespread destruction.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), between 29 December and 2 January alone, 96 people were killed and 423 injured. On 29 December, the country witnessed the highest number of deaths in a single day in 2023, as drone strikes claimed the lives of 58 people and injured 158 others.
Further escalating the situation, strikes on 30 December in the Russian city of Belgorod, which were attributed to Ukraine, resulted in the deaths of at least 25 civilians and more than 100 injuries. As a result, residents of Belgorod have begun evacuating due to continued cross-border attacks.
In addition, a missile strike in Pokrovsk, a town in the Donetsk region, claimed the lives of 11 civilians. Ukrainian authorities have attributed the attack to Russian forces. It has become evident that civilians in frontline communities bear the heaviest burden of the ongoing conflict, with nearly 70 percent of civilian casualties recorded in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Alarmingly, the impact on children has been particularly appalling. Nearly two-thirds of young Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, while an estimated 1.5 million children now face the risk of post-traumatic stress and other mental health conditions.
Moreover, the relentless missile and drone attacks have caused severe damage to civilian infrastructure. Thousands of people are now without electricity and water supply, exacerbating the challenges faced by Ukrainian communities in the frigid winter weather.
Despite the adversity, Ukrainians are working tirelessly to rebuild their lives and homes in areas less exposed to direct hostilities, as noted by Ms. DiCarlo. The United Nations, in collaboration with government partners, continues to support local recovery efforts, with a particular focus on the energy sector.
There has been a glimmer of hope amid these dire circumstances. On 3 January, Russia and Ukraine successfully exchanged over 200 prisoners of war, marking the largest such exchange since the war began.
While the focus remains on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, it is crucial to recognize the staggering number of people in need. More than 14.6 million individuals, roughly 40 percent of the population, require assistance. Attacks and extreme weather conditions have left a record number of villages and towns, approximately 1,000, without electricity or water.
Regrettably, aid operations have also suffered as a result of the latest wave of attacks, impacting the efforts of humanitarian workers. The number of aid workers killed has more than tripled, from four in 2022 to 15 last year, with an additional 35 injured.
Aid storage facilities have become another target, with over 50 incidents negatively impacting aid operations in 2023. Notably, the majority of these incidents involve bombardments that have destroyed vital warehouses, including five in the Kherson region in December alone. As a result, essential relief items such as food, shelter materials, and medical supplies have been lost.
The healthcare system has also been relentlessly targeted throughout the war, with 1,435 attacks verified since February 2022. Tragically, 112 healthcare workers have been killed, and at least 10 facilities have been damaged in the latest wave of aerial attacks.
The education sector has not been spared either. Over 3,000 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed, leaving nearly one million children without safe and reliable access to education. Many remaining facilities are now being repurposed to accommodate displaced individuals or as aid distribution centers.
The war’s far-reaching consequences have also heightened the risks of gender-based violence, trafficking, and exploitation. Reports indicate that individuals ranging from four to 80 years old have been subjected to conflict-related sexual violence.
Ms. Wosornu, Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division with the UN humanitarian affairs office, emphasized the deeply rooted psychological trauma that millions of Ukrainians may face for years to come. The war not only causes evident physical repercussions but also poses long-term psychological implications.
In 2023, humanitarians reached nearly 11 million people in Ukraine. With the launch of the 2024 humanitarian plan in Geneva, the aim is to provide support to 8.4 million individuals, requiring $3.1 billion in funding.
As the war in Ukraine rages on, the international community must recognize the urgency of the situation and provide the necessary support to alleviate the suffering of millions of Ukrainians. The need for immediate action to end the violence and ensure the well-being of the affected population cannot be overstated.
