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Events on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine

Events on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine
20/01/2025

Diplomats of the Mission attended these two events.

On 8th of January, Deputy High-Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, reported on the findings of the OHCHR on the human rights situation in Ukraine. Ms. Nashif reported September 2024 as the month with the highest number of civilian casualties since July 2022. Widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, some constituting potential war crimes, were committed by the Russian armed forces. Civilian infrastructure has been targeted extensively. The war has claimed at least 12’300 civilian lives and injured at least 28’000 civilians. Access to all parts of Ukraine by independent monitors and ending summary executions of prisoners by the Russian military were called for. Many country statements expressed concern and condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure and the use of torture against prisoners of war. Countries called for access to be ensured for independent monitors to Russian-occupied areas. In her conclusions, the Deputy High-Commissioner called for the intensification of international diplomatic efforts to broker a just peace with victims at the centre of the negotiations.

On 16th of January, from a bomb shelter in Kyiv, OCHA and UNHCR jointly launched their humanitarian needs and response (HNRP) and the regional refugee response plan. The HNRP, presented by Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, aims to raise USD 2.63B for 2025 to reach 6 million people and the regional refugee response plan, presented by Mr. Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, aims to raise USD 1.2B over 2 years to support 2.2 million Ukrainian refugees and IDPs. The focus remains on the over 12.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and the 2.2 million refugees resulting from Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian territory, in particular targeting energy and civilian infrastructure. Long-term resilience building and cooperation with local actors were the key themes of comments by panellists.