Weekly Update #28
September 12
September 12
SITUATION OVERVIEW
This section presents the most up-to-date information on the Ukraine conflict. Key sources of these data are:
The UN Office of the Commission of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
The UNHCR data portal
The International Office of Migration (IOM)
Further details may be obtained from the provided links to their respective websites.
General Figures
Refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe
7,156,748
Last updated 7 Sep 2022
Refugees from Ukraine registered for Temporary Protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe
4,008,106
Last updated 6 Sep 2022
Border crossings from Ukraine (since 24 February 2022)
12,324,430
Last updated 6 Sep 2022
Border crossings to Ukraine (since 28 February 2022)
5,566,851
Last updated 6 Sep 2022
Refugees from Ukraine across Europe (as of 7 September 2022)
UKRAINE SITUATION MAP
The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was a primary concern during the past week. The presence of the IAEA team was seen to be helpful in maintaining safe operations of the power plant. However, reports of continued fighting and shelling around the territory of the plant have resulted in damage to the remaining power lines connecting the plant to the Ukrainian electricity network, thus raising new safety concerns.
The intense shelling had sparked a fire on September 5 and forced the temporary disconnection of a backup power line of the only operational reactor. Consequently, the power supply of the city of Enerhodar, where the plant is located, was cut off. The IAEA and the UN have reiterated their calls for the demilitarization of the area, which have been unheeded.
In other parts of the country, the heaviest fighting was reported in Donetska oblast in eastern Ukraine, where the heaviest death casualties and infrastructure damages were reported.
Due to the extensive damage to heating infrastructure, the winterization plan for Ukraine has become even more complicated and costly. Currently, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians suffer from lack of power and gas supply
Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/
Internally Displaced Populations (As of August 31, 2022)
IOM compiled information on more than 3 000 000 IDPs in the 21 oblasts (in addition to Kyiv City) covered by Round 10 of DTM Area Baseline.
Key insights of their survey:
Among oblasts, Kharkivska, Kyivska and Dnipropetrovska have the highest number of displaced persons, each hosting over 295,000 IDPs.
Kharkivskyi, Kyivska, Dniprovskyi, Zaporizkyi and Poltavskyi raions reportedly host the largest populations of IDPs, with over 96,000 IDPs per raion.
Of the total IDPs, the majority have been displaced from Donetska, Kharkivska and Luhanska.
While there are some 7 million Ukrainians seeking refuge in Europe, millions of people have returned to Ukraine. A report by the Norwegian Rescue Council, Ukrainian Homecoming: A Study of Refugee Returns from Poland, found that the driving force in the high numbers of returnees was due to the wish for family reunification, though a large number still do not feel safe in their homes in Ukraine. As long as security situation remains unpredictable, “displacement dynamics will be fluid”.
In the week of September 6, the Ukrainian Government reported thousands of people having to be evacuated from eastern, south, and southeast oblasts due to intense fighting. Evacuations around the Power Plant are also being considered, as the risks of accidents are imminent.
Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/
IOM Ukraine — Displacement Report - Area Baseline Report (Raion level) — Round 10
Civilian Casualties
The Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has verified, as of 4 September, at least 13,917 civilian casualties across Ukraine since the start of the invasion:
5,718 people killed (2,214 men, 1,526 women, 186 boys and 151 girls)
8,199 injured (1,693 men, 1,250 women, 245 boys and 179 girls)
The use of cluster munitions – a violation of international humanitarian law -- has been the cause of a proportion of these deaths, as reported by the Cluster Munition Coalition, an international civil society campaign to stop the use of cluster munitions. Cluster munitions pose long-term threats to communities, since many remain unexploded at impact, allowing intermittent detonations for many year.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND RESPONSE
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 level of humanitarian response across the country continues to pick up the pace. Since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, over 560 humanitarian organizations have reached nearly 12.8 million people.
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 provide.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
A significant response to the Ukraine crisis is the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHC). The Fund is a multi-donor humanitarian financing instrument managed by OCHA Ukraine under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator. The Fund receives unearmarked funding from donors and allocates it in response to priority humanitarian needs through joint planning and an inclusive and field-driven decision-making process. In 2022, the UHF has attracted more than $197 million from 27 donors, including multilateral, bilateral and private donors.
The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund has launched a 2022 Standard Allocation of US$70 million.
The Allocation will kick-start prioritized activities under the revised Humanitarian Flash Appeal, including time-critical winterization assistance. These funds will allow partners to support internally displaced people, including evacuees, returnees and other vulnerable people on both sides of the front line directly impacted by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Projects from national organizations and organizations supporting local Ukrainian partners on the front lines will be prioritized for funding, as will those that aim to address the needs of people with disabilities, older people and vulnerable women.
This Allocation consists of two Envelopes:
1st Envelope ($50 million) aims to support prioritized activities under the revised Flash Appeal.
The deadline for submission of proposals by organizations under the 1st Envelope is 1 p.m. on 15 September 2022 (Thursday).
2nd Envelope ($20 million) aims to enable humanitarian actors to partner with national and local partners, including women’s organizations, especially small civil society organizations, community-based organizations and volunteer groups.
The deadline for submission of proposals by organizations under the 2nd Envelope is 1 p.m. on 29 September 2022 (Thursday).
Food Security and Livelihoods
About 9.3 million people across Ukraine urgently need food and livelihood assistance. The Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster is working with partners to provide immediate response rations and cash assistance to newly displaced evacuees from Donetska to Kirovohradska oblast. Simultaneously, the Cluster is now targeting to provide assistance in the areas that are back under the Government of Ukraine’s control in Khersonska oblast in the next two weeks, in close coordination with local authorities and armed forces.
An inter-agency humanitarian convoy delivered to frontline settlements in the Donestka oblast 65 tons of humanitarian aid, consisting of medical supplies, food kits, water, and tarpaulins to serve the needs of 5,000 people. Coordinated by the World Food Program, these were provided through the International Organization for Migration, the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF, WFP, the World Health Organization, and the international NGO People in Need.
Livelihood projects are being accelerated by the Cluster. Activities, such as business grants, training, agricultural inputs, livestock and poultry distribution are among the projects that have been completed in conflict-affected districts.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the UN and Turkey to enable grain distribution to global markets, continues to be operational. As of August, a total of 87 voyages (48 inbound and 39 outbound) have been undertaken. This Initiative improves Ukraine’s economic situation, while prevents food shortages in many parts of the world that will lead to a decrease of grain prices in the global market. WFP is exploring new cargo corridors in order to meet Ukraine’s export level.
Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/
Ukraine Food Security & Livelihoods Cluster FSLC Coordination Meeting August 18, 2022
Health
Some 14.5 million people in Ukraine are estimated to need health assistance. Access to health care continues to be severely impacted due to security concerns, restricted mobility, broken supply chains and mass displacement. The risk of disease outbreaks has considerably increased due to the lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene, crowded conditions in underground shelters and collective centres, as well as suboptimal coverage for routine vaccination.
Attacks on Health
Attacks on health facilities continue to increase.
Verified reports of attacks (as of 7 September 2022)
As of 30 August, the Health Cluster coordinated the work of 153 international and local partners with planned, ongoing and/or completed health-related activities in 591 settlements across the country, reaching an estimated 7.3 million people.
The European Commission announced that it is sending 5.5 million potassium iodide tablets to Ukraine for people living near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). These tablets were provided at the request of Ukraine. Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross Robert Mardini warned that in the event of a radioactive leak at the ZNPP, it would be difficult or even impossible to provide humanitarian aid to the population.
With the growing number of vulnerable young and older people, especially women and young girls, UNFPA has launched activities especially aimed at these groups to help them cope with war trauma. These programs include online platforms to respond to concerns and Safe Spaces for older and young people to access psychosocial support and counselling, which have been established in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, and Belarus.
The US-based NGO Direct Relief on 3 September issued a report on the medical aid it has delivered to Ukraine since the war began – more than 800 tons containing 5.4 million doses of medication, including antibiotics, insulin, antihistamines, and cardiovascular medications.
Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/
Situation report from WHO Ukraine country office. Issue No.22, 7 September 2022
UNFPA Ukraine Emergency Situation Report #12 (6 September 2022)
Protection
The humanitarian situation of Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced populations remains dire, as the conflict shows no sign of abating. As the war has raged on, an increasing number of vulnerable populations in Ukraine and in refugee-hosting countries have been disproportionately impacted, which now include the elderly, people with disabilities, women, and children. The approaching winter season is an additional challenge to providing basic survival needs and to protecting the rights of survivors from conflict-related violence.
Some 6 million people have been reached with protection interventions across Ukraine. This number includes 3.2 million people who benefitted from mine clearance or were reached with mine risk education, 1.1 million people reached with child protection-related activities and nearly 250,000 people who received specialized services and psychosocial support for gender-based violence survivors or information on how to mitigate gender-based violence.
In refugee-hosting countries, the focus remains on strengthening national, local and cross-border child protection system, building national capacities for identification and provision of individualized care to unaccompanied and separated children, prevention of violence against children, GBV prevention and response services, inclusion of children with disabilities, provision of alternative care, support to vulnerable families and children, and provision of MHPSS to parents and caregivers.
Border crossing points are especially key locations where protection services are necessary, as refugees arrive in foreign environments with foreign languages. Over the past week, UNHCR and partners conducted 57 monitoring visits to border crossing points with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Through this process, 288 people on the move received protection counselling, 82 received legal assistance, and 21 were supported through social accompaniment
Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/
Education
With the start of the school year, the impact of the war on Ukraine’s education system has been strongly felt. Across the country, schools have been targeted or used in the conflict, and many families do not feel safe sending their children to school. An initial study, Education Needs Assessment, concluded that 75 per cent of affected pre-school and general secondary education learners studied online. This proportion is expected to change in the coming school year. Based on the available information, a larger portion of schools will initiate hybrid learning in the fall, with the option to switch online depending on heating access and security needs.
The Education Ministry reported that, out of the total of approximately 13,000 schools across the country, 27 per cent were returning to in-class learning on 1 September, 30 per cent to a mixed mode of in-class and remote learning, and 43 per cent to remote learning only. In addition, 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.
Due to ongoing hostilities, the full reopening of schools for the new academic year (2022/2023) and university admissions may not be possible, according to MoES.
The Ukraine Education Cluster has 40 partners operating in different parts of the country. Together, they ensure that children and young people are able to receive some degree of education, even with frequent disruptions and unpredictable shifts to online learning.
On 2 September, the LEGO Foundation announced it was donating an additional $13.6 million to support the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the Ukrainian education system and the educational needs of the children and families who have fled to neighboring countries.
Sources: https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/ukraine/
UNICEF Education Cluster Operational Presence (as of 31 August 2022)
Economic and Shelter Assistance
Some 11.2 million people need shelter assistance and non-food items-related support. Timely delivery of humanitarian relief items, particularly to hard-to-reach areas, remains a challenge due to ongoing insecurity and logistics constraints.
As of 7 September, the Shelter and Non-Food Items Cluster had 93 active partners, including 61 implementing partners and 32 partners. In total, 1.11 million people have been reached by Cluster partners with assistance. Since the war began, over 962,000 people have been reached with non-food items, and over 106,000 people have benefitted from emergency shelter support.
Since March, the Multi-Purpose Cash Cluster has made available to nearly 3.6 million people funds amounting to US$748.4 million to help them meet their basic survival and recovery needs.
Sources: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/ukraine/cash-working-group
HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE
Angelus - 11 September 2022
Let us continue to pray for the Ukrainian people, that the Lord may give them comfort and hope. During these days, Cardinal Krajewski, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, is in Ukraine to visit various communities and to bear concrete witness to the closeness of the Pope and the Church.
Continuiamo a pregare per il popolo ucraino, perché il Signore gli doni conforto e speranza. In questi giorni il Cardinale Krajewski, Prefetto del Dicastero per il Servizio della Carità, è in Ucraina per visitare varie comunità e testimoniare concretamente la vicinanza del Papa e della Chiesa.
Links to the full text in ITALIAN and ENGLISHGeneral Audience - 7 September 2022
And I am not forgetting martyred Ukraine. There are some flags there. Faced with all the war scenarios of our time, I ask each of you to be builders of peace and to pray so that thoughts and projects of peace and reconciliation may spread throughout the world. Today we are living through a world war. Let us stop please! Let us entrust the victims of every war, every war, to the Virgin Mary, especially the dear people of Ukraine.
Il mio pensiero va infine, come di consueto, agli anziani, ai giovani, agli sposi novelli, sono tanti, e soprattutto ai tanti ammalati qui presenti, ai quali esprimo la mia vicinanza e il mio affetto. E non dimentico la martoriata Ucraina. Ci sono delle bandiere lì. Di fronte a tutti gli scenari di guerra del nostro tempo, chiedo a ciascuno di essere costruttore di pace e di pregare perché nel mondo si diffondano pensieri e progetti di concordia e di riconciliazione. Oggi stiamo vivendo una guerra mondiale, fermiamoci per favore! Alla Vergine Maria affidiamo le vittime di ogni guerra, di ogni guerra, in modo speciale la cara popolazione ucraina.
Links to the full text in ITALIAN and ENGLISHIMAGES FROM UKRAINE
A summer camp organized by the members of the European Committee of the Regions for Ukranian children. These camps include indoor and outdoor activities, excursions and evening entertainment.
Credit: https://cor.europa.eu/en/news/Pages/Summer-camps.aspx