Nearly 3.6 million people received humanitarian assistance in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said Monday.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine, the target of a Russian military offensive since February 2022, Griffiths said the aid consists of cash aid, food, medical aid and livelihoods.
In addition, some 43 convoys from various humanitarian organizations, with the support of local partners, have delivered essential supplies to 278,000 people on the front lines of the fighting since early 2023.
Speaking to Security Council member states, Martin Griffiths also denounced that many Ukrainian communities along the northeastern border with Russia and close to the front line are “surrounded, without water, food and medical assistance due to intense land and road fighting that has been blocked”.
According to the Under-Secretary General, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporijia remain the most difficult to reach areas – currently under military control of the Russian Federation.
“Despite informing the parties of our intentions for 14 months, we have been unable to provide assistance to communities along the front lines in areas under Russian military control,” the representative stressed.
“I note with regret that hostilities, including missile strikes, appear to be increasing on both sides of the frontline. Air raid sirens continue to blare in towns and villages across Ukraine. Civilians continue to seek shelter in ‘bunkers’, some for several days,” he said. the Under-Secretary-General, adding that the number of civilian casualties rose to the highest level in months.
Monday’s meeting, convened by Ecuador and France, came as diplomatic efforts are being made to renew the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grains and Russian agricultural products through the Black Sea, which expires next Thursday (May 18 day). .
The initiative (signed by Russia, Ukraine, the UN and Turkey) was last extended for a period of 60 days last March, according to the deadline set by Moscow.
Russia has threatened not to renew the deal, citing a lack of progress in removing barriers that make it difficult to export Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to international markets.
On the deal, Martin Griffiths – who has been directly involved in the renewal negotiations – regarded a new commitment by the parties to the proper and efficient functioning of the initiative as “critical”.
“Over the past few weeks, we have had intensive discussions with the parties to the Black Sea Grain Agreement to agree on the extension and the improvements needed to make it work effectively and predictably. This will continue in the coming days. (. . .) We call on all parties to take their responsibility. The world is watching,” he warned.
Source: DN
