Weekly Update #4
March 21-23

Civilian casualties across Ukraine continue to rise. As of 20 March, OHCHR reports 2,421 civilian casualties, including 925 killed, figures that are likely much higher as limited humanitarian access prevents corroboration in the hardest-hit areas. In just 24 days, the confirmed civilian death toll has already reached the equivalent of around 70 per cent of all confirmed civilian deaths over the last seven years of fighting in eastern Ukraine combined – 1,320 civilians were killed between 2015 and 2021.

The humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine remains the biggest concern. More than 200,000 people are now without access to water across Donetska oblast, with new localities being affected each day. As of 20 March, Donetska oblast authorities report damage to at least 10 health facilities, more than 320 educational facilities, nearly 1,110 residential buildings, 15 heating and water facilities, 30 gas pipelines, 34 electricity facilities, 21 bridges and 18 railway facilities.

In neighboring Luhanska oblast, constant shelling has destroyed around 80 per cent of some localities, leaving nearly 100,000 users without electricity. Humanitarian needs in communities in and around the so-called contact line have grown exponentially compared to before the recent escalation, as fighting expands into new areas of Donetska and Luhanska oblasts, exacerbating underlying needs accumulated over eight years of armed conflict.

In Mariupol, despite slowly growing evacuations, hundreds of thousands of people have remained trapped inside the encircled city for several weeks, lacking access to the most basic necessities for survival. On 19 March, local authorities reported that between 4,000 and 4,500 Mariupol residents were forcibly moved across the border into the south-west of the Russian Federation. According to the Ukrainian Ombudsperson, such incidents of forced displacement constitute a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Even for those fortunate enough to escape Mariupol, Donetska oblast authorities say thousands who have fled the conflict-ravaged city of Mariupol now face starvation in Manhush and Melekine (Donetska oblast, NGCA), as they are once again trapped without safe passage out of localities where food and water are becoming increasingly scarce.

OVERVIEW OF UN AND INTERNATIONAL NGO RESPONSE

OCHA also provides an overview of the various initiatives in key sectors. More information on these initiatives can be found in the respective websites of the UN agencies. We feature in this issue UNHCR, IOM, and WFP.

SOURCE: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine#_ga=2.124675913.2146008978.1647799207-565619959.1646749499

Refugees fleeing Ukraine (since 24 February 2022)*JSON

3,489,644

Last updated 20 Mar 2022

Total Refugee influx from Ukraine in neighboring countries

Country Population

Belarus - 3,765

Hungary - 312,120

Poland - 2,083,854

Republic of Moldova - 365,197

Romania - 535,461

Russian Federation - 231,764

Slovakia - 250,036

New IDP estimated figures: 6.48 M displaced persons in Ukraine as of March 16th (source UNHCR, IOM, OCHA, Protection Cluster, Reach)

SOURCE: https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2022/3/623453f14/unhcr-warns-rising-needs-ukraine-neighbouring-countries-calls-cessation.html

With more than 3.1 million refugees forced to flee Ukraine over the past three weeks, and millions internally displaced within the country, UNHCR is warning that humanitarian needs are increasing exponentially.

The humanitarian situation in cities such as Mariupol and Sumy is extremely dire, with residents facing critical and potentially fatal shortages of food, water and medicines. UNHCR is closely tracking negotiations for safe passage and already has humanitarian cargo pre-positioned. We are ready to send critical supplies into Sumy as soon as conditions allow.

In Odesa, authorities have appealed for support for general food assistance to cover the needs of some 450,000 people in the city, as well as medicines. As of 17 March, a permanent consultation point for protection, legal, and social matters is functioning at the Odesa railway station where 600 to 800 individuals transit daily on their way from Mykolaiv to the western oblasts of Ukraine.

UNHCR is launching a large-scale multi-purpose cash programme to help internally displaced people (IDPs), who fled their homes and left behind their belongings. This will help cover their basic needs like rent, food and hygiene items. Cash assistance allows people to make choices, prioritize their needs and boosts local providers. UNHCR started enrolling IDPs for its programme in Lviv on 17 March and will progressively expand to other cities and regions.

The UNHCR- UNICEF collaboration project, ‘Blue Dots” has been rolled out in 6 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia). Other countries may be added as the situation evolves and depending on the needs on the ground.

As women and children constitute some 90 per cent of those who have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries, UNHCR and other agencies have warned of increased risks of trafficking and exploitation.

SOURCE: https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2022/3/6234811a4.html

Refugees from Ukraine enter Poland at the Medyka border crossing. © UNHCR/Valerio Muscella

The overall number of refugees who have left Ukraine to neighbouring countries from 24 February onwards is estimated at over 3.2 million.

UNHCR today acknowledged the enormous support of the Polish authorities and civil society for those who have been forced to flee Ukraine, after the number of arrivals passed the two million mark within three weeks.

UNHCR is managing the Poland chapter of the Regional Refugee Response Plan and is working to strengthen reception capacities. The Plan will deploy funds raised by UNHCR and partners globally to support the country in areas ranging from shelter to education, basic needs, water and sanitation, child protection and gender-based violence. Projects will be implemented through more than 50 NGO and humanitarian partners – largely national actors – in all parts of the country.

Together with partners and in close cooperation with the authorities, UNHCR is also rolling out a cash support programme in the country worth over US$190 million to help tide refugees over in meeting their basic needs until they are able to draw support from the state.

At the Ukraine border, UNHCR has been working with partners and adding staff to help support volunteers and reception centres with information provision, protection training and specialized interventions.

UNHCR

For data updates:

https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine

SOURCE: Ukraine Situation Flash Update #4

The humanitarian needs in eastern Ukraine are becoming even more urgent:

In the Luhansk region, almost 100,000 families are without electricity.
Local authorities across Luhansk region are evacuating some 500 people per day. Overall, some 11,000 people have been evacuated from Luhansk.
In Mariupol, 350,000 people are still trapped in the encircled city, most of whom are living in dire conditions.
On 16 March, the attack on a theatre where some 1,000 civilians, including children, were reportedly sheltering in the city of Mariupol left hundreds missing, with only 130 survivors being rescued.
In Odesa, authorities have appealed for support for general food assistance to cover the needs of some 450,000 people in the city, as well as support for medicine.

UNHCR response includes:

In Lviv, UNHCR is launching a large-scale multi-purpose cash program to help IDPs who left their homes and belongings behind when fleeing, to cover basic needs such as rent, food and hygiene items.
In Chernivtsi, UNHCR received a list of collective centres hosting IDPs and the identified urgent needs to for which assistance is required. Support will be provided based on the needs.
In Vinnytsia, UNHCR met with the authorities to discuss enhancing the capacity of reception centres, complementing authorities’ efforts in establishing collective centres, and identifying cases eligible for cash assistance.

For specific country reports, see:data.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/91448

UNHCR staff distribute thermal blankets at the Shehyni border crossing point to displaced people from Ukraine waiting to cross into Poland. © UNHCR/Valerio Muscella

IOM

Daily Tracking tool:

https://dtm.iom.int/ukraine

SOURCE: IOM REGIONAL RESPONSE EXTERNAL SITREP

6..4 million: internally displaced persons in Ukraine

3.2 million: have crossed from Ukraine into neighboring countries

181,696: third country nationals have arrived in Poland, Slovakia, and Moldova

350 million US$: funding requirement

SOURCE: https://www.iom.int/news/almost-65-million-people-internally-displaced-ukraine-iom

Almost 6.48 million people are displaced in Ukraine as a direct result of the war, according to a study by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted between 09 and 16 March.

IOM's data show that 13.5 per cent of those newly displaced had already had prior experience with displacement during 2014-2015. Many of those displaced are particularly vulnerable, pregnant and breastfeeding women, elderly persons, those with disabilities, chronic illnesses and people directly affected by violence. More than 60 per cent of heads of households surveyed are accompanied by children.

Over 53 per cent of internally displaced people are women. According to the survey, the most pressing needs include medicines, health services and financial resources.

To date, IOM has distributed more than 18,000 thermal blankets and 8,000 hygiene kits to newly displaced persons in collective centres in Lviv, Ivano Frankivsk, Dnipro, Mykolaiv and Zakarpattia Regions. As new humanitarian relief supplies arrive to IOM warehouses in Ukraine every day, additional distributions are being coordinated with the Ukrainian government at the municipal and oblast level and with IOM’s growing implementing partner network.

In coordination with the State Migration Service of Ukraine, IOM has also provided food and kitchenware at two shelters for displaced people in Zakarpattia region and delivered hygiene kits to four social institutions in Luhansk.

IOM also manages regional hotlines to support the safety of individuals on the move in Ukraine. Between 24 February and 16 March, IOM Ukraine provided more than 12,000 consultations through the national toll-free migrant advice and counter-trafficking hotline (“527”).

SOURCES: IOM regional Ukraine Response, March 18 and March 21, 2022

IOM had made a Flash Appeal for Ukraine and Neighboring Countries on Feb. 22, in the amount of US$ 350 million. As of March 18, it has received US$ 107.8

For Country Responses as of 21 March 2022, see:

https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/iom-regional-ukraine-response-external-sitrep-21032022.pdf

IOM Ukaine and NGO “Spring of Hope” distribute food and hygeine kits to families in Vinnytsia (IOM 2022).

WFP

SOURCE: WFP Ukraine and Neighbouring Countries External SituationReport #6

WFP Supplies Inside Ukraine

WFP reached over 330,000 crisis-affected people inside Ukraine with food assistance since the beginning of the conflict. Food delivery to cooperating partners is being scaled up, reaching over 900 mt over the last days.

WFP participated in the first interagency humanitarian convoy aiming to deliver relief supplies to the most vulnerable people inside Ukraine.

Additional agreements were concluded with local partners for cash and food distribution for around one million and half beneficiaries, while more are under negotiation.

Reports and Coorindation strategy from members of the Working Group - Catholic Response to Ukraine (CR4U):

To get additional information about the initiatives of key partners of ICMC in response to Ukraine and affected countries, we are featuring links to their websites as well as some highlights of their ongoing work. You will find more stories on their respective websites.

CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS

UKRAINIAN REFUGEE CRISIS: CARITAS SCALE-UP WORK IN ALL NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE

LINK: https://www.caritas.org/2022/03/ukrainian-refugee-crisis-caritas-scale-up-work-in-all-neighbouring-countries-to-provide-assistance/

CARITAS EU

Since the start of the attack on Ukraine 23 days ago, Caritas Ukraine has continuously been adapting the aid it delivers to the rapidly evolving humanitarian needs.

LINK: https://www.caritas.eu/war-in-ukraine/

Note: this link is updated regularly.