Weekly Update #30
September 26

In the second round of the Intentions Survey of UNHCR ( Lives on Hold: Intentions and Perspectives of Refugees from Ukraine #2) covering 43 countries across Europe and 4,800 surveys completed, key insights into their situations and profiles have indicated the following:

Source: Ukraine situation Flash Update #31 September 23, 2022

Lives on Hold: Intentions and Perspectives of Refugees from Ukraine #2

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

UKRAINE SITUATION (As of September 21)

During the reporting period, the fighting and shelling continued in the east and south of Ukraine, with multiple civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure reported. The most-intensive fighting continued to take place in Donetska oblast, where nearly 100 civilian casualties were reported just over the three-day period (16, 17 and 18 September)– 47 in Government-controlled areas (GCA) of the oblast, including in Bakhmut, Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk, and 51 in NGCA, including in the cities of Donetsk, Horlivka and Makiivka.
Meanwhile, in the Russian Federation, the partial mobilization was announced on 21 September, and the so-called referendums on joining Russia were scheduled to take place between 23 and 27 September in the non-Government-controlled areas (NGCA) of Luhanska and Donetska oblasts, as well as in parts of Zaporizka and Khersonska oblast invaded after 24 February.
At the same time, humanitarian access in the areas of Kharkivska oblast back under the Government of Ukraine’s control has notably improved, allowing humanitarian organizations to organize several aid convoys.
Continued shelling around the Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants have raised the risks of nuclear accidents, damaging equipment and causing emergency start-up of safety systems. The IAEA called on competent Ukrainian control over their nuclear facilities to ensure safe and secure operations.

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

Internally Displaced Populations (As of September 13, 2022)

Overall, within Ukraine, nearly 7 million are estimated to be internally displaced, while another 7.4 million have sought refuge abroad.

IOM’s latest breakdown of displaced populations:

6,975,000 internally displaced in Ukraine
6,013,000 returnees

Of the total number of internally displaced people, the majority have been displaced from Donetska, Kharkivska and Luhanska oblasts. A decrease in the numbers of registered internally displaced Ukrainians has also been observed in several western oblasts: Ivano Frankivska, Lvivska and Zakarpatska. This has been largely due to their return to their habitual residences or resettling elsewhere.

Ukraine’s Ministry for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories reported on 18 September that, over the last month, approximately 82,000 people were evacuated from some of the most war-affected parts of Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Mykolaivska and Zaporizka oblasts. The Ministry credited over 20 volunteer groups and NGOs, with having supported the evacuation efforts.

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

IOM Ukraine Area Baseline Report Round 11, Internal Displacement Figures Recorded at Oblast and Raion Level (Reporting period: 22 August - 2 September) | Published 15 September 2022

Civilian Casualties

The Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) verified, as of 18 September, at least 14,532 civilian casualties:

• 5,916 people having been killed (2,306 men, 1,582 women, 188 boys and 156 girls)

• 8,616 injured (1,810 men, 1,327 women, 259 boys and 187 girls).

Most civilian casualties continued to be recorded and verified in the eastern Donetska and Luhanska oblasts – 56 per cent or a total of 8,222 casualties, including 3,540 people killed and 4,682 injured

In areas now under Ukrainian government control, landmines have been discovered, prompting security recommendations for aid workers to follow the instructions of local authorities when visiting the newly accessible areas, have mine-awareness training and wear personal protective equipment.

The UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will be investigating the burial grounds found in Izium as a possible war crime was reported saying on 16 September that UN investigators “would be looking to see if those buried were soldiers or civilians and whether they had died in hostilities or from natural causes.”

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

UN rights office set to probe ‘mass graves’ in newly liberated east

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.

In a wider view of the humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis so far, a report by the France-based NGO Groupe Urgence-Réhabilitation–Développement (Groupe URD) was posted on 16 September – based on having “conducted a real-time evaluation of the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine, in order to record lessons from the initial response, and to inform later decision-making.”

The Groupe URD report highlighted three significant factors in the Ukrainian war:

i) the remarkable resilience of Ukraine’s central government and President Zelensky that rapidly mobilized military resistance and the continued operation of the country’s administration;

ii) the impressive resource mobilization of the Ukrainian people and civil society organizations who had learned from the 2014 Crimea annexation the importance of local mobilization;

iii) the unprecedented international response that immediately pledged support to the Ukrainian response.

Source: Groupe URD Real Time Evaluation of the Humanitarian response in Ukraine, July 24th – August 18th, 2022

Food Security and Livelihoods

And in a similar wide-reaching perspective, on 15 September, UN Nutrition reported on how the “war in Ukraine shows the increasing impact of intersecting crises” around the world – including in terms of nutrition and hunger, and how the UN and its partners have been responding.

Food security and nutrition have become serious concerns, as the impacts of the war have reverberated globally, especially on countries that import wheat, maize and other food crops from Ukraine and the Russian Federation. In addition to diminished food availability, food prices are increasing due to disrupted food supply chains and elevated transportation costs.

The reports in the State of Food Security and Nutrition around the World (SOFI) point out that food insecurity already existed before the Ukrainian crisis. The war highlighted the interrelated challenges of simultaneously occurring crises of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflicts.

The number of people experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity in Ukraine is expected to be significantly higher than the previously estimated figure of 9.3 million people,

WFP is one of the first responders in more than 50 newly accessible areas in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts, having already reached almost 100,000 heavily war-affected residents with food assistance. New populations in need are becoming accessible to reach with assistance, as the conflict dynamics evolve and the frontline moves.
On 23 September, the fourth WFP-chartered vessel, BC Vanessa departed from Odesa Sea port, loaded with 30,000 mt of wheat destined for Afghanistan further supporting humanitarian efforts.
In September, WFP reached more than 1.4 million people through a combination of Bread, Rapid Response Ration, and General Food Distribution (GFD) comprising 30-day ration, Supplementary Feeding (Infant Cereal) and Institutional Feeding (IF). Under the Institutional Feeding program, WFP provides a 19.92 kg basket with rice, yellow split peas, and vegetable oil inside. These will be directed to newly accessible areas in the Kharkiv oblast.

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

Real Time Evaluation of the Humanitarian response in Ukraine, July 24th – August 18th, 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.

As of 15 September, the Health Cluster coordinated the work of 152 international and local partners with planned, ongoing and/or completed health-related activities in 591 Ukrainian settlements. By mid-September, the Health Cluster partners reached an estimated 8.6 million people across Ukraine.
WHO reports increased attacks on health facilities. By 7 September, 512 health facilities had been attacked.

In the most recent August report of the Health Cluster Public Health Situation Analysis, it was anticipated that the highest health risks in September-October would be: mental health and psychosocial support, injury and trauma, and radio-nuclear trauma.
The Needs Assessment report of the Health Cluster at the community level indicated security issues and food shortages as problems that could become serious in the future. Cost and medical supply shortages were reported as the biggest barriers to health service access.
To expand health services in response to population demands, UNICEF and IOM are working with their partners to operate health facilities. UNICEF has supported 60 health care facilities, including 23 maternity houses (perinatal centres), in 15 regions with lifesaving medicines and medical equipment to ensure better access to life-saving and diagnostic services or 215,749 children and caregivers. IOM continues to provide mental health consultations through their Mental Health and Psychosocial Service hotline which have extended almost 6,000 consultations.
WHO continues to strengthen capabilities of the national and local health facilities by providing life-saving medicines, equipment, and training as more conflict-affected areas are reclaimed by the government. As of 2 September WHO warehouses in multiple locations have received medical supplies with value of over US$1.1 million. These supplies included ambulance vans, noncommunicable diseases kits,t rauma surgery kits.

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

Situation report from WHO Ukraine country office. Issue No.22, 7 September 2022

OCHA - Health Cluster Activities

Ukraine: Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA)- long form (01 Aug 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.

With more formerly occupied areas now under government control, the threat of mines left behind by the Russians is a concern. There is an increased need for mine risk awareness education and training for both internally displaced people returning to their habitual places of residence affected or previously affected by hostilities and people residing in areas back under the Government’s control. Training sessions for students may also be conducted as part of awareness-raising campaigns.

The Protection Cluster is working to identify the partners that are available to support the conduct of assessments and provide immediate services in 30 newly accessible settlements in Kharkivska oblast.
The Cluster is directly engaging with partners on the ground in Kharkivska and Poltavska oblast to improve the coordination and the response in the areas where there are increased needs.
In the past weeks, the western oblasts have been reporting a significant increase in the arrival of new internally displaced people. The Cluster partners are engaging with relevant authorities to address some of the internally displaced people’s most pressing needs. The lack of legal documents is reported as a major concern.
Channels for conveying information and counselling services in Ukraine and refugee-hosting countries continue, such as hotlines, Help pages, mass media, and psychosocial clinics, to be critical, especially for newly accessible populations within Ukraine. For example, IOM is partnering with a Ukrainian popular show to respond to audience concerns. UNICEF continues to extend child-focused protection services through 72 Rapid Response Multidisciplinary Teams, as well as interventions for women on issues such as gender-based violence and risk mitigation.

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

UNHCR Ukraine Situation Flash Update #30 (9 September 2022)

https://www.iom.int/ukraine-iom-response-2022

UNICEF Ukraine Humanitarian Situation Report No. 20, 24 August–6 September 2022

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. 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.

Some 5.7 million school-aged children have been affected since the start of the war, including 3.6 million due to the closure of educational institutions. According to the MoES, by 1 September, only 56 per cent of all educational institutions (universities, schools, preschools, etc.) had approved shelters and were ready to resume offline studies, including 64 per cent of schools and 70 per cent of higher education institutions. While the construction and improvement of shelters are ongoing, many educational institutions still lack adequate bomb shelters.

The share of schools offering offline or mixed learning increased compared to the previous academic year when 95 per cent of hromadas reported applying exclusively online learning modality across all educational institutions. It is expected that online learning might return in the localities where the security situation deteriorates. Furthermore, the lack of heating during winter might push schools to go on forced breaks or switch back to an online format.
Among the online education providers is UNICEF, which will continue to support distance and blended learning through the All-Ukrainian School Online platform. Currently, there are 449,583 registered users on the platform, including 306,195 students and 118,541 teachers.

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

UNICEF Ukraine Humanitarian Situation Report No. 20, 24 August–6 September 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 large areas in Kharkivska oblast are becoming newly accessible to the humanitarian agencies, UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies are working to assess needs and deliver aid to communities. On 16−17 September, as part of an inter-agency humanitarian convoy of 13 trucks, UNHCR delivered more than 35,000 items including thermal blankets, tarp and solar lamps.
To assist refugees outside Ukraine, UNHCR has established regional warehouses in Hungary, Poland, Moldova, and Romania to store non-food items and non-standard items for the regional response, pre-positioning as of 21 September a variety of shelter supplies, such as housing units, winterization kits, tents, and solar lamps.
The multipurpose cash assistance intervention has been made more coordinated and systematic. Following the decision of the Humanitarian Country Team, the harmonized transfer cash value in Ukraine will be maintained at the current rate (UAH2,220 per person per month) through the end of the year.
The deduplication exercise conducted by the Cash Working Group has allowed to analyze and avoid potential unintended overlap for 1.1 million unique households. As a result, this exercise has helped prevent the disbursement of $35 million in cash assistance to recipients who have already received such assistance. This funding will be redirected to proceed with an additional 185,000 cash transfers
For the month of September, WFP cash assistance priority is to support the following groups of people: the low-income households affected by the conflict, internally displaced people with disability, people with disability in the 11 most conflict-affected oblasts in Ukraine

Sources: USAID - Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #28, Fiscal Year (FY) 2022

WFP Situation Report September 22, 2022

UNHCR Ukraine situation Flash Update #31

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

Angelus - 25 September 2022

Mary, Queen of Peace, comfort the martyred Ukrainian people and obtain from the heads of Nations the strength of will immediately to find effective initiatives to bring the war to an end.

Maria, Regina della Pace, conforti il martoriato popolo ucraino e ottenga ai capi delle Nazioni la forza di volontà per trovare subito iniziative efficaci che conducano alla fine della guerra.

Links to the full text in ITALIAN and ENGLISH

General Audience - 21 September 2022

And also I would like to mention the terrible situation in tormented Ukraine. Cardinal Krajewski went there for the fourth time. Yesterday he telephoned me, he is spending time there, helping in the area of Odessa and bringing closeness. He told me about the pain of this people, the savagery, the monstrosities, the tortured corpses they find. Let us unite ourselves to this people who are so noble and martyred.

E anche vorrei fare presente la terribile situazione della martoriata Ucraina. Il Cardinale Krajewski è andato lì per la quarta volta. Ieri mi ha telefonato, lui sta spendendo tempo lì, aiutando nella zona di Odessa, dando tanta vicinanza. Mi ha raccontato il dolore di questo popolo, le azioni selvagge, le mostruosità, i cadaveri torturati che trovano. Uniamoci a questo popolo così nobile e martire.

Links to the full text in ITALIAN and ENGLISH