Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said that it was “imperative that we explore all options for reaching civilians”, stressing that all parties to the fighting must allow and facilitate “rapid and unobstructed passage of humanitarian relief”.
“I urge parties to strengthen facilitation efforts so that we can reach out to all citizens in need,” he added.
cut off from food, water, care
He said many communities along Ukraine’s northeastern border with Russia and the front line of the fighting were besieged without access to water, food and medical care.
“Only in the past week in Kherson, residential buildings, a school, an outpatient hospital, and an elderly care facility were reportedly damaged, leaving hundreds of civilians in need of shelter and health care. And missile attacks in Odessa targeted a humanitarian storage warehouse. A Ukrainian Red Cross mobile hospital in Mykolaiv was also hit. Humanitarian supplies and critical medical equipment were destroyed.”
He said no staff or volunteers were injured, but the danger remains. Civilians should not be targeted, he insisted, or the homes, schools, hospitals and buildings where they live and work.
He again stressed the need for a political solution, and the importance of peace for Ukraine, with civilian casualties during Russia’s continued occupation of parts of the south and east, “rising to their highest level in months.”
over 20,000 dead or injured
United Nations Human Rights Office, OHCHR, “Now there have been an astonishing 23,600 civilian casualties since 24 February 2022; we all know Real toll likely to be much higher”, said Mr Griffiths.
Despite the constant threats,The sheer bravery of humanitarian workersEspecially local workers”, for the United Nations and other NGOs, this means continuing to provide life-saving aid across the country.
he said almost 3.6 million people received humanitarian assistance About 43 inter-agency convoys are providing food and vital supplies to some 278,000 people in border areas so far this year in Ukraine through the first quarter of 2023,” with local partners conducting last-mile distribution and distribution. “
But he added that more is needed “to take our efforts to scale”. The biggest challenge remains the obstacle in reaching all areas Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia are currently under military control of the Russian Federation.
Full access to these areas “is being explored through engagement with both sides.”
Martin Griffiths (on screen), Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefs Security Council meeting on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.
‘Commitment’ to the Black Sea Initiative
food items exported under black sea initiativeHe told the ambassadors that Russia continues to make a significant contribution to global food security, along with food and fertilizer exports.
more than 30 million metric tons of cargo now safely exported Of Ukrainian ports, more than 55 percent go to developing countries and about six percent go directly to the least developed countries.
This includes 600,000 metric tons of wheat transported by the World Food Program (wfp), in direct support of humanitarian work in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen.
Despite progress and falling food prices since last summer’s highs, “very more to be done,
“Humanitarian food aid operations continue to need predictable supplies. The initiative refers to the export of ammonia, but this has not yet been possible.
Over the past month, there has been a sharp drop in exports through Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, due to what the UN relief chief described as “a sharp crackdown” within the UN-run Joint Coordination Center (JCC) between Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the United Nations. challenging mobility”. Türkiye,” and a operational slowdown,
He assured that intensive talks “to Secure agreement on its expansion and reforms needed to operate it effectively and predictably“Will continue over the next few days, with the support of the United Nations” on the MoU Russian Food and Fertilizer Export Facilitation,
“For reasons I have determined, Continuity of the Black Sea Initiative is critical, as re-committed by the parties for its smooth and efficient functioning. We call on all parties to fulfill their responsibilities in this regard.
,the world is watching”, he underlined.
a war no one can afford
He ended by telling the council that it was clear that neither the people of Ukraine, nor the millions of people around the world who are suffering as a result of the economic chaos and supply chain issues, “are unable to continue this war.”
mr griffiths met security Council Members and all nations, to support all efforts to end the “genocide and destruction”.
“In the meantime, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners remain committed to protecting the lives and dignity of those affected by war and to the pursuit of peace – today, tomorrow, and as long as necessary.”
