New York, August 24 – United Nations officials warned that Russia’s six months of war in Ukraine, which has inflicted over 13,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, is sparing no one in the world and causing severe human sufferings and material damages.
At a briefing in the 15-nation UN Security Council convened to appraise the on-going war that flared up on February 24 this year when Russian military invaded Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo led the discussion with UN efforts to meet humanitarian demands around the world affected by the war. They pointed out that civilians are prime targets and paying a heavy price in the war.
They said the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded 13,560 civilian casualties: 5,614 killed and 7,946 injured and the figures are based on verified incidents but the actual numbers are considerably higher.
“The world has seen grave violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed with little to no accountability,” Guterres said. “We are seeing new vulnerabilities emerge in a global environment already worn out by conflicts, inequality, pandemic-induced economic and health crises, and climate change – with a disproportionate impact on developing countries.”
The UN said most civilian casualties were caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects and the use of these weapons in and around populated areas has predictable and devastating consequences.
“The indiscriminate shelling and bombing of populated areas, killing civilians and wrecking hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure, are actions that may amount to war crimes,” DiCarlo said. “We continue to receive reports of human rights violations. The arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of civilians, including local authorities, journalists, civil society activists and other civilians, continues.”
She said humanitarian needs continue to rise rapidly as at least 17.7 million people in Ukraine, or 40 percent of the population, need humanitarian assistance and protection, including 3.3 million children. More than 6.6 million Ukrainians are internally displaced and 6.7 million people have taken refuge in other countries mainly in Europe.
In her address, DiCarlo said crucial humanitarian assistance for those in needs ahead of winter while the war continues to rage has become a major issue. She said the UN has revised a flash appeal that would requires $4.3 billion to support 17.7 million people in need of assistance through December 2022. She said donors have generously provided $2.4 billion as of August 19.
“The humanitarian response has scaled-up to 500 humanitarian organization partners reaching over 11.8 million people with at least one form of assistance,” she said.
“The war has severely impacted agriculture in Ukraine, leaving thousands of farmers without income, destroying grain storage facilities, and exacerbating food insecurity among vulnerable groups. According to the World Food Program, 20 per cent of the people of Ukraine have insufficient food.”
Estimates provided by WFP said 345 million people, including an increase of 47 million due to the Ukraine war, will suffer acute food insecurity in 82 countries with a WFP operational presence.
“The global financial situation remains volatile, with concerns about potential stagflation scenarios in the latter part of 2022 and 2023. Energy markets remain under stress, a serious concern as the winter season in the northern hemisphere approaches,” she said
“This war is not only senseless, but exceedingly dangerous, and it touches all of us. It must end,” she said.
By J. Tuyet Nguyen
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