Over the past 11 months, 30 United Nations inter-agency convoys have delivered crucial aid supply to the most vulnerable people in acute need across Ukraine. While several trucks reached areas close to the frontlines, the lack of safe access to Russian-held zones in Ukraine has prevented aid deliveries to the population there.
“A six-truck convoy reached the Donetsk region with water, medicine, emergency shelter material and other supplies to the town of Toretsk which is approximately 10 kilometres from the front line there”, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “The convoy also delivered trauma and emergency surgery supplies”, said Mr. Laerke while referring to the delivery on 31 January.
Approximately 15,0000 people out of the 75,000 residents who lived there before the war are still in that town and nearby communities.
The planning of the convoys, so OCHA, is a constant process, which is conditioned by the security on the ground which may allow or not a humanitarian aid delivery. Via a notification system the parties to the conflict are informed where the convoy intends to go and what material will be transported so that the fighting parties will adhere to their obligation under International Humanitarian Law so that humanitarian assisstance can reach those in need.
So far, the lack of safe access to Russian-held zones in Ukraine has prevented aid deliveries in these areas.
“A number of notifications, as I have mentioned before, has gone out to reach areas under the current control of the military of the Russian Federation”, said Mr. Laerke. “Up until today, none has been provided in the sense that we have not been given the adequate assurances of security to go to these areas”.
On 2 February (yesterday), five inter-agency trucks delivered medications, materials for emergency shelter repairs, tool kits and hygiene items to the Zaporizhzhia region in the south-east of the country. The tools for emergency repairs are urgently needed for the damaged homes to survive the harsh winter.
“Yesterday’s supplies are intended for people in the Huliaipole community, where around 3,000 people remain close to the front line”, OCHA’s spokesperson said. “They are exposed to regular shelling, and their access to basic services is disrupted. Since March last year, the residents here have had no electricity as the facilities were damaged by fighting and they cannot be repaired because the fighting continues”.
Mr. Laerke added that “yesterday, the convoy delivered medicines, including a pneumonia kit and hygiene items and that is particularly to support the most vulnerable people and that, when we speak about vulnerable people here, it is the elderly people with limited mobility and families with children”.
The supplies are provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Representatives from local communities and volunteers help distributing directly to the people in need.
-ends-
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
Institutionalised forced labour by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea constitutes grave violations of human rights – UN report
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Time is running out for starving civilians in Sudan, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday, while talks involving the country’s warring parties continue in Geneva this week.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC faces a severe humanitarian crisis with 25M in need and rising conflict-related issues.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
A gimmer of good news emerged from Gaza on Tuesday as patients returned to at a newly reopened UN health centre in Khan Younis, six months after it was severely damaged and forced to close by heavy fighting, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN condemns attacks on Kyiv hospitals, calls for immediate action to protect civilians.
1
1
2
Edited News | WHO
In Gaza, soaring temperatures, hunger and unsanitary conditions present an ever more deadly threat to a population under constant attack, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WMO , IFRC
Hurricane Beryl smashes into Caribbean, turns sights on Mexico As Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path shifted to Mexico on Friday after roiling the Caribbean, UN agencies and partners said that the emergency response was underway, before warning that a very long and damaging hurricane season looks increasingly likely.
1
1
2
Edited News | IOM , mcc , UNHCR
Refugees and migrants continue to face extreme forms of violence, exploitation and death on sea and on land across Africa as they attempt to leave the continent, UN agencies said on Friday, in an appeal to border authorities to do more to protect them.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk at the 56th Human Rigths Council, made the following update on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
New evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army for areas in southern Gaza are expected to impact 250,000 people, including eastern Khan Younis and Rafah, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
Gaza: People are desperate, they need everything, says UN aid agency Panic and desperation now grip ordinary Gazans struggling to survive, UN humanitarians said on Friday, amid fuel shortages of fuel and dwindling supplies that have prevented aid teams from doing their job.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
UN aid teams and partner organizations remain deeply committed to delivering lifesaving supplies into Gaza, despite the increasing dangers of working there, the Organization’s top aid official said on Wednesday.