Facts: The situation in Ukraine
Since the outbreak of war in February, around 7.8 million Ukrainians have fled in other European countries (including Russia), according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
Around 6.2 million people have been forced to flee within the country.
17.7 million people in Ukraine are estimated to be in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Ukraine has 44 million inhabitants.
Source: UNHCR
It has been over eight months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began and, in addition to the great loss of life and human suffering, the material devastation is enormous. Basic things such as food, water and heat are the focus of the aid organizations that are on site.
— Water infrastructure has been destroyed as a result of the conflict and the International Committee of the Red Cross is now working with local authorities to repair infrastructure. But this is an ongoing problem, says Achille Després, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Ukraine, on the ground in Kyiv.
The other week, for example, large parts of the capital were left without water and electricity after Russian attacks. Ukraine also regularly shuts off electricity in selected regions to relieve the damaged power grid.
Prepare for winter
Many people have seen their homes destroyed during the war. The UN refugee agency UNHCR estimates that close to 18 million Ukrainians are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The Red Cross is currently trying to help people repair and rebuild their homes, including by donating building materials but also by handing out cash.
“We try to give people the opportunity to purchase what they need themselves,” says Achille Després.
People in Mykolajiv queue to pick up bread. Image from October 25, 2022.
In recent weeks, the Kiev region has been shaken by repeated airstrikes, and in several parts of the country the Russian attacks have targeted energy infrastructure. The bombing of Kyiv the other week happened when people were on their way to work, says Achille Després.
— Or followed their children to school. It is incredibly traumatic for civil society to go through this. Critical infrastructure has been affected, exposing the civilian population to additional risks.
The International Committee of the Red Cross is particularly concerned about the fact that winter is approaching, adds Achille Després.
“We have been working for several months to prepare society for the winter, which will be very difficult and challenging,” he says.
Reserves are running out
Even Unicef is currently putting a lot of its humanitarian effort into mobilizing for the winter, especially in the form of generators and heating elements.
— If there is no heat or no electricity, the water systems do not work either. This basic infrastructure is extremely important now, not least before winter, says Pernilla Baralt, Secretary General of Unicef Sweden.
In addition to critical infrastructure, there is also a large focus on healthcare. It is the lack of clean water that makes infectious diseases such as polio and diphtheria easier to spread – something that is particularly dangerous for children. According to Unicef, over 3 million children in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian aid right now.
– Now this war has been going on for a very long time and both people’s own reserves as humans but also physical reserves are starting to run out. It is a population that is incredibly fragile, says Pernilla Baralt.