New York - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine said continued attacks on civilian infrastructure in the country are leading to an increase in humanitarian needs, and urged increased funding to ensure assistance is provided to those in need. According to what was stated in the UN news bulletin, of which we received a copy, he shouted on Tuesday
Denise Brown spoke via videoconference to reporters at United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday, emphasizing the need for support to prepare for the early winter in Ukraine.
She said that humanitarian workers are preparing for the winter by distributing blankets, fuel, stoves and thermal insulation for homes that were damaged during the last winter.
It noted the additional damage and increased needs resulting from the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and attacks on major cities.
Attacks on civilian infrastructure in Odessa
Ms. Brown spoke of her visit to Odessa, where several sites were hit in last week's airstrikes.
She said that Odessa represents a very important center for the United Nations and the humanitarian community, noting that it is a staging area for the flow of relief supplies to locations in need.
Mrs Brown visited the Transfiguration Cathedral, a centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage church that was badly damaged in an attack on 23 July.
Ms Brown said the cathedral had a basement and when the sirens sounded many people took refuge there "unaware that the cathedral itself was going to be bombed".
Brown also visited the port of Odessa, which was damaged by an air raid on the port after Russia announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative, which was needed to support food supplies worldwide.
“Whether it is the cathedral or the port, it is a civilian infrastructure used for civilians and civilian purposes.”
Houses were damaged in Mykolaiv
Ms. Brown also spoke of the damage to civilian homes and apartments in Mykolaiv, some of which were so badly damaged that they would have to be completely demolished. She went on to say:
"What I saw in Mykolaiv and Odessa last week is being repeated in many major cities in Ukraine. An apartment building was hit earlier this morning and people were killed, some left under the rubble."
Poor funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan
Earlier this year, the United Nations launched a $3.9 billion humanitarian response plan for 2023. The plan aims to provide humanitarian assistance to 11.1 million people.
However, the United Nations has so far only been able to raise about 30 per cent of the total amount requested.
Needs continue to rise, Ms. Brown said, citing the "totally unexpected" destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, which doubled humanitarian needs.
"The humanitarian situation has not changed. The war continues and intensifies, and the needs are increasing. The only way to change this is to stop the war."