Weekly Update #23
August 8

• The security and humanitarian situation only continued to deteriorate in Donetska oblast.

• In the south, Mykolaiv has, in the last week, reportedly suffered the heaviest attacks since the start of the war. According to the oblast authorities and humanitarian security reports, there have been shelling and multiple civilian casualties daily.

• Five months since the escalation of conflict in the country, deadly shelling and missile attacks continue, causing destruction, civilian injuries and deaths. Hostilities have destroyed more critical infrastructure, leaving millions overall without access to basic lifelines such as health services, water, electricity and gas supplies.

Civilian Casualties

The war in Ukraine continues to cause massive destruction in urban centres, leaving hundreds of civilians killed or injured every week. Hostilities have also prevented evacuations or impacted people trying to flee areas under constant bombardment.

Across Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has verified, as of 31 July, 12,584 civilian casualties since 24 February:

• 5,237 people killed (including 2,056 men, 1,400 women, 211 boys and 155 girls)

• 7,257 injured (including 1,446 men, 1,048 women, 221 boys and 155 girls)

More than half of the casualties were recorded and corroborated in eastern Donetska and Luhanska oblasts.

Source: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND RESPONSE

The Ukrainian crisis has profoundly impacted the lives of millions of people – in Ukraine and other countries – who had never imagined its magnitude on many levels. Six months into the crisis, humanitarian organizations continue to face increasingly enormous challenges in responding to the diverse short-term as well as long-term needs.

The challenges have nonetheless brought out the best in all of us, who have stood in solidarity with the suffering of the Ukrainian people. The global generous response to the unending needs brought about the tragedy of war has been inspired by the resilience of the Ukrainian people who have been displaced by the war, but who persist in their faith in divine help, as expressed by ICMC Secretary-General Msgr. Robert Vitillo.

The response of the international and faith community all over the world has been generous and wide-ranging. In this section, we feature snapshots of the different ways key humanitarian partners, such as the United Nations agencies and various faith communities, have been engaged in alleviating the devastating impacts of this tragic war.

These information are regularly provided by humanitarian actors and reflect activities/results undertaken in the previous week. Further details are available from the links provided.

Food Security

• The World Food Program has called for attention to the threat of a global food insecurity looms, as the ripple effects of the war are felt in many countries of the world.

• In a first step to abate this threat, the first commercial ship sailed from Odesa carrying 26,000 tons of corn for distribution to global markets. This breakthrough was possible through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, arranged by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and facilitated by the Turkish government. It is to be noted that presently about 10.2 million people across the globe urgently need food and livelihood assistance.

• At least six partners (Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, Danish Refugee Council, People in Need, Ukrainian Deminers Associate and World Vision) are now working on livelihoods provision and reached nearly 39,000 people in the last two weeks with agricultural inputs, livestock vaccinations, and capacity-building training for farmers.

• In July, 3.3 million people were reached with food and livelihood assistance, with the highest numbers of people reached by partners currently residing in Kharkivska, Dnipropetrovska, Kyivska and Zaporizka oblasts

• In refugee-receiving countries, such as Romania, Poland, and Greece, Migrant Integration Centers (MICs), managed by IOM, provide information on employment pathways, support with health and education registration, language courses, counselling, and other tailored assistance.

Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/

WFP Ukraine Limited Emergency Operation External Situation Report, 01 August 2022

IOM Regional Ukraine Response - Situation Report #25, 04 August 2022

Protection

Refugees and internally displaced populations experience extraordinary vulnerabilities brought about by unstable and unpredictable circumstances of the conflict. Women and children comprise the majority, who become targets of exploitative practices, including trafficking and sexual violence.

The UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children and the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women have stressed the need for adequate provision of information, access to safe and accessible accommodation, transportation and assistance and protection measures and have urged all humanitarian actors to include protection as an essential component of their response.

• As of April 2022, the Protection Cluster has mobilized 79 local and international partners across Ukraine that provide protection assistance to refugees and IDPs.

• 450,078 people received protection assistance, advice and referrals at border crossing points, transit and reception centres and through hotlines organized by UNHCR.

• UNICEF has rolled out 70 Spilno (“Together”) Spots across Ukraine, which are multidisciplinary mobile teams consisting of a social worker, psychologist, lawyer and nurse to provide child protection services.

Sources: Ukraine response protection snapshot (27 March - 07 April)

UNHCR Ukraine situation Flash Update #24

UNICEF Ukraine Factsheet No. 7, 20 July 2022

IOM Regional Ukraine Response - Situation Report #25, 04 August 2022

Education

Some 5.7 million school-aged children have been affected since the start of the war, due to the closure of educational institutions.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) reported that around 2,200 education facilities had been damaged and about 220 destroyed completely across Ukraine. According to the recent Education Needs Assessment, 75 per cent of affected learners study online, and 11 per cent (3,500 out of 31,347) of school and learning facilities are not available for educational activities as they are being used to host the displaced, further disrupting the educational process.

The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Office in Ukraine to further protect children’s rights, improve education and provide mental health support for those affected by war. A key element of the cooperation will be the Back to Learning Together Initiative, which UNICEF will launch together with the Ministry of Education and other government agencies under auspices of the First Lady ahead of the school year.

Cluster partners have reached nearly 222,000 children and teachers with education services, an increase of about 10,000 compared to the last week.

About 191,000 school-aged children affected by the war continue learning through self-learning assistance that is complemented with psychological support systems, learning kits, recreational materials, and renovated classrooms.

Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/

https://www.unicef.org/ukraine/en/press-releases/olena-zelenska-and-unicef-continue-partner-protect-children-ukraine-and-their-access

Economic and Shelter Assistance

Financial assistance and shelter are the most pressing needs of refugees and IDPs. In Round 7 of the Ukraine Displacement Report of IOM, 71% identified cash as the highest priority for assistance.

• As of 1 August, 2.3 million people have received cash assistance across the country worth $493 million from various UN agencies, surpassing the initial target and demonstrating an 18 per cent increase since a month ago.

• Across Ukraine, IOM has registered 125,954 displaced people and registered host community members registered into their cash assistance programs, with 83,829 receiving funds. Similar support has been given to neighboring countries, including Moldova (3,426), Belarus, Ireland, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania.

• WFP served around 860,000 people with cash worth over USD 59 million in July.

• Since the beginning of cash enrolment in Ukraine on 17 March, cash assistance has been disbursed to 436,000 people by UNHCR.

• In refugee-hosting countries, recipients of multi-purpose cash program of UNHCR have been: Moldova (67,279) Poland, (276,047), Romania (12,341), and Slovakia (50,867).

• In terms of shelter, nearly 1 million people have received support with emergency shelter or critical household items through UNHCR since the war began in late February.

• IOM extends shelter assistance in Ukraine and other countries through infrastructure repairs and short and long-term housing partnership with Airbnb.

Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/

UNHCR Ukraine situation Flash Update #24

IOM Regional Ukraine Response - Situation Report #25, 04 August 2022

WFP Ukraine Limited Emergency Operation External Situation Report, 01 August 2022

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

Angelus - 7 August 2022

I would like to welcome the departure from Ukraine's ports of the first ships loaded with grain. “This step shows that it is possible to dialogue and achieve concrete results, which benefit everyone. Therefore, this event can be seen as a sign of hope, and I sincerely hope that, following this path, we can put an end to the fighting and arrive at a just and lasting peace.

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MEMBER REPORTS

Depaul International and Depaul Ukraine Update: Friday 5th August 2022