UN Briefing: Intensifying Hostilities in Ukraine and Their Impact on Civilians

Escalating Hostilities and Civilian Impact

• ⚡ Intensifying hostilities in Ukraine, including relentless missile and drone strikes, are continuously increasing the toll on civilians.
• ⚠️ Air raid sirens serve as a constant reminder of danger, with civilians describing an inability to feel safe even in their homes.
• 🥶 Freezing temperatures are exacerbating hardships, leading to more frequent power outages that deprive families of essential heat and water.

Humanitarian Challenges and Needs

• 📍 Civilians, particularly older people and those with limited mobility, remain trapped in areas like Pokrosk and Miroad without reliable access to basic services.
• 🆘 Humanitarian organizations are struggling to reach populations in areas like Liman, where fighting has cut off access to assistance.
• 🏥 Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including over 500 verified attacks on healthcare facilities this year, risk undermining international humanitarian law.
• 🏠 Displacement continues to rise, with millions displaced internally and millions more seeking refuge as refugees, often moving multiple times.

Access and Funding Constraints

• 🛰️ Humanitarian partners have reached over 4.2 million people, but face immense challenges including constant threats of shelling, restricted access, and damaged infrastructure.
• 🎯 Humanitarian convoys, like one in Kherson, have been attacked, highlighting the critical need to protect humanitarian vehicles and personnel.
• 💰 Underfunding is a significant constraint, with only 46% of the required humanitarian response plan funded, leading to critical gaps in shelter, specialized care for survivors of sexual violence, and mental health support.

Resilience and the Call for Peace

• 💪 The resilience of Ukrainian communities, with teachers holding classes underground and doctors performing surgeries without power, is remarkable.
• ⚖️ However, resilience cannot substitute for safety, dignity, or compliance with international humanitarian law.
• 🕊️ The UN urges the council to play a vital role in ensuring respect for international law and working towards an end to violence, emphasizing that humanitarian concerns must be central to any future peace process.