UN warns of deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine

New York-Sana

Kayoko Goto, Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations at the United Nations, stated that the war in Ukraine is becoming more dangerous and its trajectory is difficult to predict after nearly five years of devastation. She emphasized during a briefing to the UN Security Council that the situation has worsened with intensified Russian attacks on population centers and civilian infrastructure.

Record civilian casualty figures

Goto noted that the UN Secretary-General strongly condemned attacks that have led to record levels of civilian casualties. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 17,968 civilians, including 874 children, have been killed, and 57,713 civilians, including 3,504 children, have been injured since the start of the Russian military operation.

Threats to energy and navigation

Goto warned that attacks on energy infrastructure threaten nuclear facilities and exacerbate humanitarian suffering as winter approaches. She also highlighted the impact of Black Sea incidents on global food security, calling for the protection of civilian ships and de-escalation to ensure the safety of maritime navigation.

Humanitarian warnings from the Under-Secretary-General

For his part, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mohammad Yahya, warned of the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the unreliability of electricity and heating supplies. He stressed that humanitarian aid cannot replace a destroyed electricity grid, calling for the protection of humanitarian workers and ensuring aid delivery.

These warnings come ahead of scheduled trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi mediated by the United States, amid ongoing exchanges of missile and drone attacks. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has renewed his call for a ceasefire, protection of civilians, and adherence to international humanitarian law.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)