Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Coordination Division at the
UN relief wing OCHA, addressed ambassadors,
highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian support with the
winter freeze approaching, and access to essential services an
increasing challenge.
He outlined efforts by relief workers to provide support to
communities on the frontline and in hard-to-reach areas,
including ensuring sufficient supplies of water and heat.
“The aim is to ensure that every civilian has access to somewhere
both safe and warm during the winter ahead,” he said.
Access challenges
However, lack of humanitarian access to the parts of the Donetsk,
Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions under temporary Russian
military control are among the “most significant” challenges.
“The consequences of not delivering assistance to the estimated
four million people in need in these areas are dire, particularly
with the winter months soon upon us,” the OCHA official said,
emphasizing the legal obligation on all parties to allow and
facilitate rapid and unimpeded delivery of aid.
“It is vital that we be able to alleviate the human suffering
caused by this war, regardless of where it is in Ukraine,” he
said.
Devastating toll
Mr. Rajasingham said latest verified information suggested more
than 9,900 civilians have been killed since the start of the
invasion in February last year.
As these are only the figures the UN human rights office
(OHCHR) has so far formally
verified, “the actual toll is certainly higher,” he said.
He cited “significant damage” to critical civilian
infrastructure, including electricity, heating, water and
telecommunication facilities, as well as attacks against health
facilities and personnel.
Humanitarian organizations have not been spared, he added, noting
that so far in 2023, 14 aid workers have been killed.
Grain exports
The OCHA director note continued strikes on port infrastructure
on the Black Sea and the Danube River.
Ukraine has nonetheless reported a growing number of vessels
entering and departing from its Black Sea ports via a temporary
corridor announced in August, following Russia’s withdrawal from
the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative, he said.
“As we have said in this chamber many times before, at a time of
staggering levels of hunger around the world, it is imperative
that all sources of food supplies are safely and sustainably
connected to global supply chains,” Mr. Rajasingham stressed.
