The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
CONTINUITY: OCHA and UNHCR Ukraine Humanitarian Response - 15 January 2024
/
42:32
/
MP4
/
2.5 GB
Edited News , Press Conferences | UNHCR , OCHA
OCHA and UNHCR - Press Conference: Ukraine Response Plans Launch - 15 January 2024
STORY: Ukraine Humanitarian and refugee plan 2024
TRT: 2 min 55s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 15 January 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley, UN Geneva with snow
- Wide shot: speakers at the press conference
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator: “14.6 million people, 40 per cent of the population in Ukraine, will need humanitarian aid. 4 million people are internally displaced. That's in addition to those who are externally displaced.”
- Medium shot, speakers at the podium with journalists in press room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator: “It's been as bad as it could be this last month, hasn’t it? And that's really been quite shocking. The number of attacks, the broad range across the whole of the country from Russia has been absolutely unrelenting.”
- Medium shot: Journalists in press room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator: “3.3 million people living in the middle of war zones, of daily bombardment, of uncertainty about where the day will end. And that's really a shockingly high number even these days.”
- Wide shot: Journalists in press room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator: “In Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, families live in damaged houses with no piped water, gas or electricity in the freezing cold. Constant bombardments forced older people to spend their days in basements, children terrified, traumatized, still have lived for the last three years under these circumstances, trapped indoors and many, many, many, many of them with no schooling.”
- Medium shot, speakers at the podium with journalists in press room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees: “The total displacement today, I'll focus on that, is about 10 million people. If you add the almost 4 million estimated to be displaced inside Ukraine and the over 6 million, these are estimated to be refugees worldwide.”
- Close up, journalist listening
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees: “Of the people outside, especially those in Europe that are just over 5 million, so the bulk, some people do go back and forth. But the return has not been in very huge numbers. IOM (International Organization of Migration) estimates about 900,000 people have returned. This is an estimate because it's very, very difficult to count because of the pendulum movement.”
- Wide shot: Journalists in press room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees: “The number of refugees in working age who are employed – Ukrainians- depending on the country, ranges from 40 to 60 per cent. So, there's an extra push to be made in terms of inclusion.”
- Close up: Journalist taking photos
- Close up: Journalist listening
- Wide shot: camerawoman filming and technicians in control room
- Close up: OCHA spokesperson listening
- Medium shot: Journalists in press room
STORYLINE
The UN and humanitarian partners launched on Monday a combined US$ 4.2 billion appeal to donors to bring aid to some 10.8 million people in the war-affected communities in Ukraine but also to Ukrainian refugees and their host communities in the region throughout 2024.
A recent wave of attacks underscores the devastating civilian cost of the war, while a bitter winter is ratcheting up the urgent need for life-saving humanitarian aid.
“14.6 million people, 40 per cent of the population in Ukraine, will need humanitarian aid”, said Martin Griffiths, the UN top aid Coordinator when briefing journalist at the UN in Geneva. “4 million people are internally displaced. That's in addition to those who are externally displaced.”
The UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator added that “it's been as bad as it could be this last month […] and that's really been quite shocking. The number of attacks, the broad range across the whole of the country from Russia has been absolutely unrelenting.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates the response inside Ukraine. This Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requests $3.1 billion for 2024 and targets 8.5 million people.
According to Mr. Griffiths, “3.3 million people [are] living in the middle of war zones, of daily bombardment, of uncertainty about where the day will end. And that's really a shockingly high number even these days.”
The current humanitarian situation is likely to further deteriorate this year if hostilities persist and attacks targeting energy and other critical infrastructure increase during the ongoing winter, said OCHA.
“In Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, families live in damaged houses with no piped water, gas or electricity in the freezing cold,” said Mr. Griffiths. “Constant bombardments forced older people to spend their days in basements. Children terrified, traumatized, still have lived for the last three years under these circumstances, trapped indoors and many, many, many, many of them with no schooling.”
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, coordinates the Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP), which requests $1.1 billion and targets 2.3 million refugees and host communities this year.
The full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War.
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that “the total displacement, […] is about 10 million people. If you add the almost 4 million estimated to be displaced inside Ukraine and the over 6 million, these are estimated to be refugees worldwide.”
He added that “of the people outside, especially those in Europe that are just over 5 million. So the bulk, some people do go back and forth, but the return has not been in very huge numbers. IOM (International Organization of Migration) estimates about 900,000 people have returned. This is an estimate because it's very, very difficult to count because of the pendulum movement.”
Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries also need increased and sustained support, said UNHCR. Despite efforts for inclusion, only half of school-age refugee children are enrolled in schools in host countries, while a quarter of refugees in need struggle to access health care.
According to Mr. Grandi, “the number of refugees in working age who are employed Ukrainians, depending on the country, ranges from 40 to 60 per cent. So, there's an extra push to be made in terms of inclusion.”
Despite extreme access challenges, especially to areas occupied by the Russian Federation, aid workers reached nearly 11 million people in Ukraine in 2023, with the support of the international donor community. Humanitarian organizations made every effort to increase assistance in the front-line communities.
-ends-
Teleprompter
OK, so let's start. Good morning. Um, welcome to all those who are here.
And I'm very happy to see you in person after
these weeks of, uh, virtual, uh, discussions with you.
We start again this morning with
IBD press events,
and we do it with two important
UN officials that are here to tell you about the joint launch
of the Ukraine Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.
A regional refugee response plan for 2024.
I am named Martin Griffiths
and the Secretary General for
humanitarian Affairs and Emergency relief coordinator
and Filippo Grandi,
UN High commissioner for Refugees.
As usual, we will hear from our speakers for introductory remarks.
And then we will open the floor to question here and
on the platform where I see there are about 25 participants,
so I'll start with the USG
Griffiths.
Thanks a lot. Thank you very much.
Right.
I thought it was going to be better without actually,
we'll see. We'll judge at the end of it.
Thank you for being here,
sir. Brighton.
Good to be here with philippo
because we're launching, as you said,
two response plans today to support the people of Ukraine
through 2024.
1 is for those who fled the war, refugees which Philippo will speak to,
and then the humanitarian plan for those in need
who remain in the country.
This is a normal process, as you know,
in places where there are large refugee outflows and
where there are connections between the two plans,
it's important that they
synergize and
you can see that they are complementary.
Ukraine. You remember Ukraine?
Yes, it's been quite a while since
we've seen much about it.
I
think a year ago it would have been all Ukraine.
And now, for the last many
weeks
we've heard very little about it.
So I'm very glad we've got this opportunity today to
talk about it and to launch it this morning.
Next month we'll enter a third year, an unexpected, in my view,
at least third year of full blown war
and occupation.
It started, of course, 10 years ago in the east of the country,
but the escalation in 2022
rushed
in a whole new level of death, destruction, despair and, of course,
of outflow of refugees.
40 per cent
of the population will need humanitarian assistance
this year.
That's 14.6 million people. 40 per cent
of the population in Ukraine will need
humanitarian aid.
4 million people
are internally displaced.
That's in addition to those who are externally displaced, which Philippo will
talk about
almost as many as those who are internally displaced. 4 million around the country,
places of some safety.
3.3 million live in front line communities in the east and south,
where the war goes on
under relentless bombardment.
3.3 million people living in the middle of war, zones of daily bombardment,
of uncertainty about where the day will end.
And that's really a shockingly high number. Even these days,
no place
in Ukraine is untouched by the war, and
the wave of attacks that began just before the New Year, as we saw, are
witness to this to the devastating civilian cost
of the war.
Add to that the harsh winter,
which is sweeping across Ukraine and ratcheting up people's need
for life saving support, heating,
proper shelter, warmer clothes
and a sufficient
calorie intake. Because of the winter
in the small towns and villages on the front lines, people
have exhausted their own meagre resources
and rely on aid
coming in through
the convoys
of our partners to survive.
In Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, families live in damaged houses
with no pipe, water, gas
or electricity in the freezing cold,
Constant bombardments force older people
to spend their days in basements.
Children
terrified, traumatised still
have lived
for the last three years
under these circumstances, trapped indoors and many, many, many, many of them
with no schooling.
Across Ukraine, homes, schools
and hospitals are repeatedly hit.
Basic services are not spared
water, gas and power systems.
Indeed, the very fabric of society, how we live.
Employment, schools, care centres, shopping,
safety of access to those places daily
is under threat.
But
it's worth
taking a moment
to remember this. Ukrainians refuse
to buckle under this extraordinary onslaught
and they refused to resign.
People step up for each other.
Community spirit remains high.
They volunteer to help deliver a leaf
to those who can't move
some warm shelter
care for Children.
No less than 60 per cent
of our 500 humanitarian partners
are Ukrainian organisations,
so 500 humanitarian organisations operating
inside Ukraine
delivering aid inside Ukraine.
More than half of them are Ukrainian
organisations,
a testament really to the
community spirit
and the patriotic spirit
of many people in that country.
We aim to reach more than 8.5 million
people this year with water and hygiene services
materials to repair homes, winter clothes and supplies.
The things that I've already referred to
the plan
for 8.5 million
focuses, as you
know, from the maths on the most vulnerable.
Those who are close to the front line
are the top priority
and every day convoys are sent out to reach those
in danger,
as are the convoys in danger.
Aid will be delivered across the country to areas we can reach
via these comprehensive programmes on these convoys.
In partnership with local
NGOs, the local partners I referred to
and complementing the Ukrainian government's
own efforts
and our relationship with the Ukrainian government
remains steady, strong,
supportive
and we act under their guidance
under their leadership
and often under their direction.
We are asking
donors
for $3.1 billion in funding
for 2024
more will be needed to support
those who Filippo will refer to.
No one wants to depend on assistance from outsiders
to cover life's basic needs. This is true
across the world. Whether you're in Gaza or Sudan,
no Syria
or elsewhere. No one wants to depend on such assistance.
But there is no choice
for those millions
14.6 million who need assistance.
8.5 million
which we whom we are targeting.
They need your help. They need your funding
because humanitarian aid remains
the lifeline without which
they will perish
as the war continues
unabated. Without signs
that I'm aware of of coming to some conclusion
and amid everything else happening
across the globe,
we must stay the course for the people of Ukraine. And it is
a very sad
reminder
that today
we are begging for attention for Ukraine
when for so many
days and weeks and months
of previous years,
we've had great attention to Ukraine and we've begged for attention
for places elsewhere places still needed, like Sudan and so forth.
But today
we beg for attention
for the people of Ukraine and we will be having a launch here
right after this meeting. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much. US G Griffiths
High Commissioner.
Randy!
Thank you. Good morning, everybody. I think the two key
words that Martin used are the key ones. One is remember,
Unfortunately, it's sad to say I don't want to
elaborate even
more what he just said.
And, um,
the second one is full blown occupation.
Well, it's war, full blown occupation and destruction of infrastructure and a
terrible impact on millions of civilians.
Most likely, what we have seen in the last month, I would say,
is one of the worst periods of the war in terms of impact on civilians,
not least because it coincides with winter, which, as you all know
is a terrible time in
is very, very harsh in Ukraine.
The total displacement today I will focus on. That
is about 10 million people if you add
almost 4 million estimated
to be displaced inside Ukraine and the over 6 million
estimated to be refugees worldwide. This includes Canada,
US and Japan and other places, but 6.3 million. I think so.
We are over 10 million people, not in their homes, which remains, by the way,
the largest displacement crisis in the world.
I can't think of any other crisis that is as big
the priority clearly,
and Martin focused on that already is to help people inside Ukraine.
There is much less
outflow of people.
The big outflow was really in the initial two months of the war, if you recall.
But then I thought, I think that what happened.
People saw that it was possible to remain safe
and remain inside the country, which they prefer to be closer to their homes.
So we continue to see displacement inside Ukraine,
but much less or almost not at all, outside displacement
of the people outside, especially those in Europe that are just over 5 million.
So the bulk,
some people do go back and forth,
but
the return has not been in very huge numbers
estimates about 900,000 people have returned.
This is an estimate because it's very, very difficult to count
because of the pendulum movement.
Some of those people, by the way, are now displaced because they don't go back.
They cannot go back to their homes, which is destroyed or on the front line.
But they stay in other places, so it's a fluid situation.
One thing that is important because I know there's been some debate,
including with the Ukrainian authorities.
It is very important why the Pul
Movement is possible and it is not possible in other refugee
situation because these people are not fleeing from their government.
They are fleeing from
the occupation and
the invasion and the bomb and the Russian bombing.
They are not fleeing from the Ukraine, they are still refugees.
That's how we call them because they flee
from war but not refugees from their government.
I want to say that very clearly in case there is any misunderstanding in this respect
and a couple of words on what we are launching. In addition to what Martin said. So
the appeal has two components inside Ukraine and outside
the outside is called Refugee Response Plan.
It is lower in numbers than last year.
We're asking for just over a billion dollars, basically 1.1 billion.
I recall that last year we asked for 1.7
more people are included, more people work, there is less,
needs are diminishing and governments and the European Commission are doing a lot,
so there is less need for us and our partners, but still
in all countries, especially Moldova, but also in other countries there is a need
to do work
give fulfilled basic needs
protection needs for those that
have particular requirements
in terms of access to services or in terms
of particular vulnerabilities, of course, access to education and health.
These are very important.
Still, we are distributing. We, including the partners, are distributing cash
in many in many countries.
I have to say that
Europe has been very exemplary, as you know,
through the temporary protection regime that was
established throughout Europe. In the course of 2022 it's still in place.
It's now in place until I think spring of 2025. We will have to think of that.
They will have to think of that later. If God forbid, this continues, we don't know.
But for the time being regime is strong, still exemplary.
Still, my message is,
please learn from it because it is a good model for other refugee groups as well,
not just for Ukrainians, but for Ukrainians.
It's very, very good, still interesting.
If you look at the statistics, the number of kids going to school
refugee kids going to school is only about 50%. Many learn online
the Ukrainian curriculum and so forth, so it's not that half of the kids don't learn.
But those who go to formal school, which is important for Children, as you all know,
is only half.
Likewise,
the number of refugees in working age who are employed
Ukrainians depending on the country ranges from 40 to 60% so
there is an extra push to be made in terms of inclusion.
Many are always waiting to go back home. So there is that
self imposed temporariness, if you wish.
But these are all areas that need attention in
terms of protracted situation where you want more inclusion.
You want more education because you don't want to
leave anybody behind in a political environment that,
with the European election, is likely to be volatile,
although we haven't really seen,
as in other contexts, a backlash on that particular situation.
Finally, just to say that
last year we asked for the refugee component. We asked for 1.7 billion
this year, 1.1 billion. This is normal. Last year it was well funded.
Let's hope it will be this year as well. I remind all of you that we
are not well funded, generally speaking, so I hope that Ukraine,
which has been an exception
will remain an exception. Well, I hope that the others will also be better funded.
But you know what I mean.
I hope that at least funding there will continue to be generous.
It's very, very important, especially at the time of competition.
With so many other situations, Moldova big focus
and
the appeal covers 11 countries, I should have said, and by the way,
I want to also echo Point.
Martin made
this appeal. You spoke about 500 organisations.
The refugee appeal is over 300 organisations as well,
of which of which interesting 45. So
about the sixth are led by refugees themselves. So are really grassroots.
So this localization that everybody is talking about in
this context which has opportunity inside Ukraine and outside,
is really working, which I think is a big asset of the operation in terms of
cost and effectiveness and finally just to say that.
Like I said, Moldova is a big priority still,
although more stable from the refugee side than before.
I am going there myself this week and I'll be
also going into Ukraine after Moldova for a few days.
I was hoping to be able to go before and talk to you about that.
But the logistics didn't allow, so I'll be there
from next weekend until the middle of next week. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Commissioner. And just, uh uh for housekeeping.
Unfortunately, Commissioner Grande has to leave. I said nine o'clock sharp.
So I would like to ask those who want to ask questions to
Commissioner Grandi, maybe to to start,
So we can
Martin.
OK, five minutes. So OK, let's concentrate
the questions to High Commissioner first,
can I ask you to raise your hands for questions?
To Mr Grande to High Commissioner
Grandi.
Us.
Griffiths will stay a little bit longer.
OK, so let me see if there's any specific question to High Commissioner Grey,
please.
Online or in the room.
Do I see any hand up?
Apparently. Yes. Antonio Broto, the Spanish news agency.
Antonio, you have the floor.
Uh, thank you very much. Uh, so, Mr Grandi, as you mentioned several times, Moldova.
Uh, can you explain us What is the the special needs of refugees? Uh, in that country.
And, uh, what are the main difficulties in in this? And if you can mention also
some of the other 11 countries that are in in your in your plan. Thank you.
No, no, I understood. Yes, Yes, I heard.
Yeah. I think that it's not that Moldova has more specific needs than
the other countries. It's the same vulnerable groups, mental health.
By the way, I should have mentioned big problem growing everywhere.
Clearly, the trauma of war,
the trauma of separation from family is taking a toll after almost two years.
So two years,
two years,
so
that is seen in Moldova, as is seen elsewhere.
The difference with Moldova is that Moldova is outside the European Union,
so a little bit less supported by the union's system that
across the board are supporting refugees in the other countries.
Otherwise, the countries included, as I said, are 11
the biggest ones you know which ones they are. Poland continues to be
the biggest refugee hosting country.
Germany is the biggest refugee hosting countries.
We are also operating in the Baltics
and throughout Europe, I would say,
but don't make mistakes in most of these countries.
Our programmes,
the programmes of our partners are relatively
small because states are taking the lead.
Municipalities are taking the lead in Moldova This is a bit less developed, less
less structured So organisations humanitarian organisations have a
little bit more space But it's going well.
It was difficult at the beginning I remember to set up systems
But already in my visit last year I could see a lot of progress.
Excellent Cooper operation with the
Moldovan government and I trust I will see the same later this week
Thank you very much High Commissioner Any other question?
If not, I know you are expected outside from
one of our journalists So we will continue with other questions to Mr Griffiths
I have seen quite a few hands. Yes, please.
Uh can you introduce yourself?
Hi, Michelle and grand for Geneva
So thank you.
Alessandra. Uh, Mr Griffiths, uh, my question is, um,
about Ukraine
and Switzerland hosted talks, uh, yesterday about the 10 piece,
uh, 10 point peace formula.
Um, I was wondering, uh, how involved is the UN with these, um, these efforts,
which include a lot of the, uh, the points in the in the plan,
uh, are directly or indirectly related to humanitarian needs.
And, um,
do you see Ever see any other, uh,
related initiatives such as the Black Sea grain deal, which we saw, um, of course,
fall apart.
But
do you see any other similar, uh, agreements that could be reached? Thank you.
Am I on? Yeah.
you know, I don't have any direct involvement in that piece
plan process,
but I think the UN does observe much of it.
And, of course, we get reports about the meetings that we will.
I'm
sure from the one yesterday.
And I know my colleague
Denise Brown,
the humanitarian co ordinator and resident co ordinator of the UN in
Ukraine, does attend meetings in the presidency. I think still weekly
on the progress of that plan.
and it is still in progress
because we're about to enter the third
year. And, as Philippo said, which I thought was a really good point.
It's been as bad as
it could be this last month,
hasn't it? And that's really been quite shocking.
The number of attacks the broad range across the whole of the country
from Russia has been absolutely unrelenting,
so
we need progress on that plan.
As a former mediator,
there's nothing more important
than
a horizon. A future for peace, some sort of optimism
on the Black Sea.
Yes, we were very unhappy, of course, all of us about the termination in July
of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Rebecca Greenspan has been continuing her work
on the
memorandum of understanding signed between the UN and
Russia on getting Russian exports out. That wasn't stopped.
It's still going on,
and we are still hoping to
make progress on it. We met here in Geneva,
Rebecca hosting a meeting. I was present with the Russian delegation a
few weeks ago. So
still talking.
And there is
there's still opportunity in our view for progress on the Black Sea.
What we need to remember about the Black Sea is this
that
it is obviously
coming through the Bosphorus a choke point.
The Bosphorus,
anyway,
a trade route of the highest importance not just for grain, but
in particular in terms of food security for grain,
but also for oil and for other commodities.
And if the war were too and we have seen signs
that it has in some respects
to be extended to make the Black Sea really a war theatre,
then of course those exports would be at risk so far
a rare piece of
relatively good news. The exports
that are continuing by both Ukraine and Russia Ukraine out of those desert
ports
down through the solidarity lanes down in the
west western edge of the Black Sea have been
working quite well. I have heard the figure of up to 7.5 million tonnes exported
through the course of the last many months
in
this way,
but it's precarious, It's tenuous.
And
I believe personally
that we need to talk to both sides about how to make
those exports safe.
And of course,
we are in constant contact with Turka on this
who have their lead role in the Black Sea.
So what? This space,
Thank you very much.
If it's
other questions in the room or I'll go to the platform.
OK, so Gabriel
Tre
Reuters.
Uh, good morning. Uh, thank you, Mr Griffiths.
Um, given that the the response plan is designed to cover people most in need,
many of these people are in areas occupied by Russia
or near the front lines.
Uh, and and
O
has said that, uh, its access to these areas to the occupied areas has been,
um, has been significantly impeded.
I'm just wondering, um how,
um how How the you plan to reach all these
people in these areas and and whether the greatest impediment is
the absence of security guarantees or the lack
of political will from the occupying power?
Thank you.
Yes, there are significant numbers. I don't have the exact number
in front of me
But in areas under Russian control
on the Russian side of the line
where our convoys have not crossed
virtually since the beginning of the war there has
been aid provided to the people living there.
They certainly need it obviously just like any other part of the country
through local organisations,
some of them supported by organisations in
Ukraine proper.
Excuse me,
but not enough. And
we continue to remain in negotiation with the Russian government
about how to make access to those people more
how to get access to those people Not even more
effective how to get access to those people who are perhaps
in the most urgent of needs. Since it has now been two years since any real,
effective, regular reliable humanitarian aid has reached them
the lower Donbass,
effectively and elsewhere,
and
in the front lines.
This is This is the daily life, really of humanitarian operations inside
Ukraine.
Yes, to the displaced To a further back in places of safety.
Yes, To
repair
and reconstruct shelters in those places because
of the winter and because people coming
back and also people fleeing from the front lines need somewhere to live.
Yes, to repair places are damaged by these attacks.
All those things but people in the front lines, for example by the river and
Kelson
and so forth. People who have lived through this,
he
for two years.
These people are reached by these convoys.
And on every occasion we provide notification to both sides
when a convoy is going to take place.
To what area? With what purpose, with what kind of supplies and so forth.
So we're completely open
and transparent about that.
For the purposes of safety
and security. We do this elsewhere. We do this in Gaza.
We do this in Syria, we do this around the world.
It's essentially a deconfliction system. So
to make sure that the places we go to are not attacked and on the whole,
on the whole,
those convoys have got through safely
in the course of this last year,
and that is a great
A great relief for those people living there.
But
a humanitarian aid
needs to be
repetitive, reliable,
predictable.
You need to know when the next one is coming in in order to
space out the supplies that you have acquired on this occasion.
This is so everywhere this is in Gaza. This is everywhere.
And that, I think, is what is most important for the people on the front lines.
To be sure that they know that next week or in a month's time or whatever, whatever
the regularity is planned to be,
that it is something that
can be relied on
and under the leadership of Denise. And with these 500 partners
and with the funding,
which has been
very, very,
very, very generous
in these last couple of years,
that has mostly been achieved.
That's a small mercy,
but it is a mercy for the people involved in war.
Last year, in 2023
we had a budget
of
$3.9
billion more than this year. We're constantly trying to reduce
the numbers
that we're asking for because the
the economy the global economy
tells us to
and we received 67 per cent funding last year.
So we received $2.65 billion last year,
67 per cent funding.
It was probably almost certainly the best
level of funding in the world
last year.
Very, very many of I mean I think our total
amount of funding for the whole year for the global
humanitarian response plans
which required 50,000,000,058 billion. I think it was by the end of the year
received around 30.
This year
we've launched
a
plan for the
for humanitarian response plans totalling $48 billion
again trying to keep the numbers down
so that we can
make sure we get as much
as we can to prioritise people
and we would
hope to improve on the percentage.
But Ukraine has been relatively well funded
but as people have said who have visited and Philippo will remind us when he's there
not fully funded,
not fully funded and that the
needs
continue to grow because as the war goes on,
it continues to destroy infrastructure
and the destruction of infrastructure
is what makes
humanitarian lives
humanitarian aid
necessary. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Yes.
Gigli.
It's Mohammed Arslan
and
Aulani.
The Turkish news agency.
Yeah. Uh, thank you so much, Alessandra. Thank you, sir. Uh, uh, uh, Mr
for the brief.
Uh, my question is, uh is there a possibility?
Uh,
is there a possibility for peace negotiation to to stop
ongoing war between Russia and
Ukraine this year? Or, uh, are you making your aid plans and stating that
this war will continue this year also, Thank you so much.
I
do.
Maybe I'm lucky. I have nothing to do with
political diplomacy
and
the
achievement of peace because it doesn't.
The
global record these days is pretty grim, isn't it?
So I've got the easy one, which is humanitarian aid.
We always plan humanitarian aid across the world
without supposition that the war will end and release us from our obligations.
Each plan that we put forward like this one today is for the whole year.
If suddenly tomorrow, a
miracle happened
and the war stopped,
we would be the happiest of people
right after Ukrainian people.
And of course,
we would redirect funding towards reconstruction and repair and so forth
there will there will. There will
continue to be significant
financial
needs
even in the aftermath of war. We know this from everywhere we worked
the cost of reconstruction,
of making homes safe of de
mining,
especially demining agricultural areas
of the repair of the
Koba Dam,
which has still not been repaired.
Uh, which was impacted. Remember last July? I think it was
There will always be cost. But this plan is based
on the pessimistic assumption that the wall will continue through
2024.
Lisa Shala,
Voice of America
10.
Uh, thank you, Alessandra. And good morning. Good morning to you.
Uh,
um, yeah, I've got a couple of questions. One is, uh you just said
that the needs will rise as the war goes on through.
And so, uh, I'd like your reaction to the,
uh the fact that support appears to be waning,
uh, for Ukraine from the United States from European countries
and what your concerns are about that in terms of the continuance
of the war and the acceleration of the damage and the needs
that will be growing.
And, um,
are you concerned that if Russia does indeed gobble up
the Ukraine that its appetite to go after other countries
will accelerate as well. And this will create more work for you
and other humanitarian agencies.
And then secondly,
um, is there any, um,
do you have any sort of interaction with the Russian government?
And what
what do you know about the people? Who?
The Ukrainians who are living in the Russian occupied territories?
Apparently, you're not able
to get to any of them.
What are your concerns about that?
Thank you.
Well, I think I'll answer the second question already.
I
think it was the first question I was asked
about access to these people.
And how aid is delivered
has been at a very low level by local organisations throughout,
and our own access has been
impossible for reasons of safety and security,
and we have not been able to do. We've made many representations.
We've had many discussions with Russian authorities about it,
and we have not yet succeeded in coming to an agreement as to how
we can deliver aid responsibly according to
our usual norms to those people directly,
it can be done through cash. Of course,
cash
is one of the ways in which, particularly last year,
we saw a huge increase in cash globally as a way of delivering
aid and cash crosses lines,
you know, through the Internet. In 2023 cash assistance reached 4 million people
in Ukraine,
with $580 million dispersed through cash.
You know, the
by far the largest amount, of course, in areas under Ukrainian control, because
there are complications providing cash into those Russian held
areas to do with banking and so forth.
But cash is a means of getting aid to people who need it in
places like that. The first question.
Well, I'm not going to get into the business of Russia gobbling up any
any countries again.
That's not my business. I'm focused on
aid where it is needed now,
and
the truth of the matter is
firstly
sorry.
Can you turn off
Mr
Mike, please? Firstly,
we do have a very close
and honest and open and constructive
relationship with the government that helps us a
great deal In terms of our operations.
We complement their work.
And as Philippo said about the regional response,
it is also true about the in country response. Many of the people are reached
by people who are not part of the response plan.
European aid directly
and others.
And
we have as yet seen no diminution of humanitarian aid
for those people, nor indeed, from the United States
as yet
no diminution of humanitarian aid.
There may be diminution in other aspects of aid to Ukraine,
but for us for now.
And we beg for today.
Please don't
walk away from Ukraine.
The people of Ukraine
need us today as much as they did
on 27 February
2 years ago.
Thank you.
Sure.
Let me take a last question. I think it's from
you. Had a question.
OK, so, Gabriel from Reuters, have a follow
up.
Uh, thank you for taking my question. My second question, Um,
given that the appeal last year was funded at 67% as you mentioned, and
and obviously we have a lot of competing crises as you, um, as you mentioned as well,
uh,
do you think donors? How do you think donors will respond to this appeal this year?
Given
all these crises,
Um what what level of funding
would you deem
acceptable
or deem workable in these circumstances? For Ukraine? Thank you.
100%
funded. What are you gonna do? What are you gonna ask me, right? I mean,
we wouldn't put a plan out
if we
if we didn't want it funded at 100 per cent.
We have already reduced
the numbers of those we seek to reach to 8
million from whatever it is 14.6 million.
So we've already reduced those to the priority needs,
and every single plan that we put out is very, very strictly prioritised.
You will see that as we go through 2024 where we have reduced. As I said earlier,
the overall ask from 58 billion down to 48.
And we do that in order to make sure that we want all of it.
There are no parts of this are sort of
an add on nice to have optional extra.
This is all about
in Ukraine, life saving
assistance.
And we hope
that governments will continue to be generous.
Of course you're right. And the burden of your question is the competition
for funding is getting greater. There's no question about it. And as we go into 2024
the competition for funding is going to be more difficult than 2023 even,
the cost of the Gaza War
even before it extends any further. Considerable.
But also
you remember that country that we never talk about
Sudan,
which has probably
the greatest suffering
that you see in many in many senses around the world today,
which is down around 37 per cent funded, I think,
but which is so hard to get onto the
screens and to the attention of people precisely because
of the competition of places like Gaza now and Ukraine as it was
getting attention, your attention. And I'm not blaming the press.
This is a factor of
world interest
to these countries makes all the difference.
And Sudan is one where I feel
the greatest
conscience
and failure
of ours to deliver
to the people there.
The UN operation is not in
Khartoum.
It's also been now part of many attacks in Wadi Medina,
which is the jump off point for K
to
MSF. As usual,
courageous to an extraordinary degree
still gets in and out of
Khartoum
ICRC the
same
but Sudan
Well,
that's a whole another story for another day,
please Ukraine today only asking for a little little bit.
$3.1 billion please, by tea time.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much. Us,
Griffiths. And good luck with the official launch of the plan
in a moment. Thank you. Everyone who has participated in this press conference.
I wish you a very good week. Thank you.
Perhaps not such an early
one.