Russia’s war of aggression destroys houses in Ukraine every day. The UN and other organizations are helping with reconstruction. This is also important for the refugees to return, says a UN diplomat.
Almost two years after the start of the Russian war of aggression, the UN refugee agency classifies the humanitarian situation in Ukraine as very serious and warns that aid will decrease.
“The air strikes hit the front line and the cities every day. And with every strike they bring destruction that affects civilians. Many people lose their homes or are displaced,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi to the German Press Agency in Kiev. The head of the UNHCR spent a week visiting aid projects in Odessa, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kiev.
Ukrainian society has shown itself to be very strong and united since the Russian attack, but after two years the strain is noticeable. “These fractures are becoming visible, and the risk is of course that they will become larger as international support in all its forms decreases,” Grandi said.
In 2022 and 2023, the work of the UNHCR and other aid agencies was well financed, said the Italian UN diplomat. But this year there was a threat of cuts. The war in Ukraine has lost international attention, the war in the Gaza Strip is dominating the headlines. And with three main donors – Germany, the USA and the EU – the amount of aid for Ukraine has not yet been determined.
There is a risk of cuts this year
“The priority is houses, repairs – anything that gives people shelter,” Grandi said of UNHCR’s work in Ukraine. “Putting in new windows because windows are constantly being destroyed. It’s very frustrating to have to do that all the time because there’s always new destruction.” Since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, the UNHCR, together with other aid organizations and Ukrainian agencies, say they have repaired 27,500 houses.
Repairs and reconstruction are also important to enable refugees from Germany and other countries to return, said Grandi. A database is being developed with Ukraine in which refugees can find out “where they can get material and where subsidies are available.”
According to Grandis, the United Nations estimates there are 3.7 million internally displaced people in Ukraine and another 6.3 million refugees in other countries. “Ten million people are not living in their homes,” said the High Commissioner. They also included 1.3 million Ukrainians in Russia. This is the number reported by the government in Moscow. The UNHCR’s access to them is “very limited, but not zero.” Through visits and telephone calls we had contact with 70,000 to 80,000 people.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
