UN Briefing: Ukraine Civilian Attacks, Humanitarian Crisis, and Funding Cuts

Escalating Civilian Harm in Ukraine

• ⚠️ Not a day has passed without an attack harming civilians since March 1st, according to UN officials.
• 🎯 The briefing highlighted specific deadly strikes, including one on March 7th that killed 21 civilians and injured many more.
• 🏠 Widespread damage to homes, shops, and vehicles has been reported across multiple regions, including Sunumi, Odessa, Denipro, Donetsk, and Khakiv.
• 💔 A family of three was killed in a drone attack, and nearly 100 civilians, including over 20 children, were injured in another massive attack.

Impact of Attacks on Infrastructure and Vulnerable Populations

• ⚡ Attacks on energy infrastructure continue to affect civilians' access to electricity, gas, heating, and water, especially during the cold weather.
• 🆘 The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating, with nearly 13 million people needing humanitarian assistance.
• 👧 Displacement disproportionately affects women and girls, increasing their exposure to gender-based violence.
• 📉 Funding cuts are expected to impact an estimated 640,000 women and girls by ending vital gender-based violence services, psychosocial support, and safe spaces.

Restricted Humanitarian Access and Verified Casualties

• 🚫 Humanitarian access remains severely restricted in Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, affecting an estimated 1.5 million civilians.
• 📈 The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has verified at least 12,881 Ukrainian civilians killed and almost 30,500 injured since February 24, 2022, with actual numbers likely higher.
• 🏥 Over 2,300 attacks affecting healthcare facilities, personnel, transport, supplies, and patients have been verified by the WHO.

International Law, Humanitarian Aid, and Funding Needs

• ⚖️ All parties are reminded to adhere to international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian objects, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access.
• 🤝 Humanitarian organizations, largely led by local NGOs, are working amidst insecurity, but their facilities and personnel have also been targeted.
• 💰 Only 17% of the $2.6 billion needed for the 2025 Ukraine humanitarian needs and response plan has been provided, necessitating continued financial support.

Calls for Peace and Compliance

• 🕊️ The UN calls for an end to the war and sustained efforts to ensure humanitarian needs are central to discussions on pauses in fighting or long-term agreements.
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine's Deputy Representative reaffirmed Kyiv's position against recognizing occupied territories, foreign dictate on defense forces, and restrictions on sovereignty or policy choices.