Thousands of civilians killed
Almost eight million people are fleeing Ukraine
2/7/2023 8:59 am
For almost a year, the population of Ukraine has been suffering from the Russian war of aggression. According to the UN, almost eight million people have left the country, and 17.6 million need humanitarian aid. Officially, 7,000 civilians died – but the number of unreported cases is probably higher.
As the first anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine approaches, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has outlined the consequences for the population so far. Almost eight million people fled the attacks and fighting from Ukraine to neighboring countries, the head of the UN emergency aid office Ocha told the UN Security Council on Monday (local time) in New York. Another 5.3 million are displaced in their own country, many have sought protection in collective accommodation.
17.6 million or almost 40 percent of the population need humanitarian aid. Griffiths announced that he intends to present this year’s plan for humanitarian aid in Ukraine in Geneva in February, which requires 3.9 billion dollars (about 3.6 billion euros).
More than 7,000 civilians have been killed, according to official UN figures, but the actual number is certainly higher, Griffiths said. He also drew attention to the countless people who stayed in basements for days or even weeks to be safe from bombs. Large parts of the infrastructure, including schools, residential buildings or hospitals up to entire towns and villages have been destroyed. “There is no sign of this violence abating,” Griffiths said in his speech.
Russia attacked neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, this war led to the largest refugee movement since the Second World War. Griffiths acknowledged the resilience of the Ukrainians who stayed in the country despite the war and violence. At the same time, he warned that civilian targets should be excluded from the fighting.