Weekly Update #40
December 5

The onset of winter conditions in Ukraine, where temperatures can drop below -20 degrees Celsius, brings new dimensions to the humanitarian crisis in the country and could be a matter of survival for millions of people if they cannot stay in a protected and warm place. Freezing temperatures have exacerbated the energy crisis, following continued Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

By the end of November, the Ukrainian energy system was able to cover only 70 per cent of the peak demand to generate power. The situation is more critical in the west of the country and the capital Kyiv, the worst affected by the latest attacks on energy infrastructure. Restoration of the heating supply in parts of Kharkivska oblast in the east, and Khersonska oblast in the south, have not been possible yet due to the exceptionally severe damage inflicted.

Some of the most vulnerable among the millions of Ukrainians forced to flee their homes because of the war are those who are in collective centres for displaced people. Humanitarian organizations have confirmed that many of these centres are not adequately equipped for the winter and urgently need heating and fuel, in addition to other critical repairs.

As needs increase during the winter season, insecurity and obstacles imposed by the Russian Federation continue to hamper the capacities of humanitarian workers to support people in areas close to the front line or not under the control of Ukraine. People close to the front-line face immense needs caused by the most recent massive destruction of infrastructure and accumulated damage in the previous eight years of conflict in the east.

Across Ukraine, authorities report that at least 700 critical infrastructure facilities, such as airports, bridges, oil storage facilities and electrical substations have been damaged.

Sources: UNHCR Operational Response, Delivery Updates (30 November 2022)

IOM Ukraine Crisis Response Operational Update, 25 to 31 October 2022

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

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

In the round 10 of the IOM’s General Population Survey of the Ukraine population, it was determined that approximately 20% of Ukrainian refugees have returned to their habitual place of residence. Between September 26-October 27, an estimated 1.1 million Ukrainians had returned to their residences.

These returnees were asked to identify the top three reasons for their return:

Most were driven by sentimental reasons such as homesickness and a wish to resume normal life (42%), as well as wishes to reunite with family and friends (30%).
Economic motivations also featured prominently, with 34 per cent indicating a desire to be employed, earn salary, or run their business as a key motivation for return.
26 per cent of returnees indicated that a perception of safety featured as a key decision-making factor in their return.

60% of returnees reported that their area of their primary residence had been damaged by attacks or direct consequences of war. However, they are unable to undertake home repairs due to cost, lack of materials, and serious damages.

Around 11 per cent of returnee households lack sufficient food. The need for food was reported especially by returnee respondents in the Center and South macro-regions, where 31 per cent and 21 per

cent respectively indicated lack of food.

As of October 27, fifteen (15%) percent of returnees were unemployed, including both those actively searching for employment and those not looking for a job. The vast majority (97%) of the unemployed returnee respondents reported losing their job due to the war.

With the winter onset, returnee households experiencing limited or disrupted access to heating utilities are frequently relying on solid fuels as alternative means of heating. The need for - and access to - solid fuels varies across macro-regions, reflecting differences in the energy infrastructure across the country and highlighting areas for humanitarian cash transfers or subsidies.

Overall, the needs of returnees do not differ significantly from the non-displaced population. It appears that those who have returned may, in general, have fewer needs than those who were unable or

unwilling to displace. However, marginally more returnees identified the need for a heating appliance (27% compared with 25% of non-IDPs), perhaps reflecting the impact of displacement on preparations for winter.

Source: IOM Ukraine Crisis Response Operational Update, 25 to 31 October 2022

IOM Ukraine — Returns Report (October 2022)

CIVILIAN CASULTIES

(As of November 27, 2022)

Total civilian casualties from 24 February to 27 November 2022

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 17,023 civilian casualties in the country. This included:

a total of 6,655 killed (2,601 men, 1,783 women, 173 girls, and 209 boys, as well as 37 children and 1,852 adults whose sex is yet unknown)
a total of 10,368 injured (2,245 men, 1,604 women, 215 girls, and 304 boys, as well as 250 children and 5,750 adults whose sex is yet unknown).

These casualties took place in the Donestk and Luhansk regions:

On Government-controlled territory: 7,350 casualties (3,502 killed and 3,848 injured)
On territory controlled by Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups: 2,002 casualties (460 killed and 1,542 injured)

Total civilian casualties from 1-30 November 2022

152 killed (49 men, 34 women, 3 girls, 4 boys, as well as 3 children and 59 adults whose sex is yet unknown); and
484 injured (127 men, 81 women, 9 girls, 13 boys, as well as 8 children and 246 adults whose sex is yet unknown).

Source: OHCHR Ukraine: civilian casualty update 28 November 2022

IMPACT ON HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

The Office of the President of Ukraine announced that local authorities have established more than 4,000 Points of Invincibility that will provide services such as heat, water, lighting, and mobile communication. These points are now monitored by UNHCR to assess needs and provide needed materials.

As reported by the Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, such additional distribution points are open daily from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. To receive humanitarian aid, Ukrainians need to present their passport and identification code. “Humanitarian aid from international donors and other regions of Ukraine continues to arrive in the Kherson region. Everyday thousands of tonnes of food, hygiene products and other necessary items are brought here,” the department says.

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Overall, and since the start of the war, the UN system and its aid partners on the ground have made the Ukraine response a consistently high priority.

Through the support of generous UN donors, the UN agencies have provided some 13.5 million people with some kind of humanitarian assistance across Ukraine, including shelter or critical household supplies to 2.4 million people; clothing, heating appliances and other winter supplies to around 630,000 people; water and hygiene services to 6.9 million people; food to 8.9 million people; health services to 8.9 million; and cash to 4.3 million people.

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Following the re-taking of some parts of the country, the response has expanded to people in villages and towns of Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Luhanska and Zaporizka oblasts. In addition to various inter-agency or agency-specific humanitarian convoys, the UN and NGOs have rapidly expanded cash assistance to people in those towns where markets are functional. In total, more than 100,000 people have already received cash assistance in these parts of the country that until recently were unreachable by most aid organizations.

Immediately following de-occupation, over 165,000 civilians in Kherson were found to be living in dire conditions in the city, where damage to infrastructure is so severe that it makes it almost impossible for people to survive. On 27 November, the Ukrainian government moved hundreds of citizens out of Kherson to central and western parts of the country in its ongoing efforts to evacuate the remaining population to areas where basic services are more accessible and threats less immediate.

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In the neighbouring countries including Moldova, Poland and Romania, that are hosting Ukrainian refugees, the lead refugee agency – UNHCR -- works closely with the national authorities as well as partners to prepare contingency plans. Preparedness measures include the procurement of an adequate stock of essential relief items, including thermal blankets, mattresses, clothes and other items.

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

UNHCR Ukraine situation Flash Update #36

IOM Ukraine Crisis Response Operational Update, 25 to 31 October 2022

WHO War in Ukraine: situation report from WHO Ukraine country office. Issue No.34, 30 Novembre 2022

Government and partners ensure continuation of health services

The Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko announced that Ukrainian hospitals will not close even in blackout conditions, but noted that medical institutions need to reduce the number of rooms in use. He emphasized the need to optimize available premises in order to maintain all services even in limited spaces. He further emphasized that the MoH has identified two categories of hospitals: clinics that can operate without a centralized power supply, and clinics that can operate without centralized heat and a centralized water supply.

More than 1100 Starlink satellite networks, funded by the private spaceflight network of Elon Musk, have been installed in Ukrainian hospitals to ensure uninterrupted communication and continued emergency services.

The Ministry further reported that 50 hospitals in Kharkiv received generators. Now all facilities with resuscitation and operating rooms are supplied with generators. All the hospitals have enough fuel to start operating the generators if needed. The MoH, together with the World Bank, will purchase 1100 additional generators, which should soon be delivered to Ukrainian hospitals. An additional 170 generators for medical facilities will be provided by WHO.

Since the start of the Russian invasion, the WHO have reported the scope of attacks on the health area following attacks in Ukraine.

Source: WHO War in Ukraine: situation report from WHO Ukraine country office. Issue No.34, 30 Novembre 2022

Austria extends temporary protection scheme for Ukrainian refugees

In implementing the agreement across the European Union to accept Ukrainian refugees, the Austrian Government will be extending the temporary protection scheme for another year, which will now be effective until March 4, 2024.

As the stay of refugees will be for a longer period of time, the UNHCR has recommended to the Austrian government to institute changes that will make possible integration of refugees into the Austrian system. A central recommendation is to make it even easier for refugees to access the labor market. On the one hand, it would help to exempt refugees from the Ukraine from the requirement for a work permit, as is also the case in most other EU countries or for recognized refugees and persons entitled to subsidiary protection in Austria.

The rapid issue of new cards for displaced persons would also give potential employers more security and increase the chances of finding a job. UNHCR also recommends starting to think about long-term residence permits now, which would make it easier for young people to access apprenticeships, for example.

According to the UNHCR, access to Austrian social assistance and minimum income is an important element to support long-term integration. Refugees from Ukraine are currently in the so-called basic care system, which is designed for short stays and is mainly intended for asylum seekers.

Source: https://www.unhcr.org/dach/at/84463-empfehlungen-zur-weiteren-unterstutzung-und-inklusion-von-fluchtlingen-aus-der-ukraine.html#

Status of funding

As of 29 November, humanitarian organizations in Ukraine have received $3.15 billion, which is more than 73 per cent of the amount requested. Almost 40 per cent of the funding received has come from the United States ($1.25 billion). Other significant contributors include the European Commission ($367.4 million), Germany ($234.8 million), Canada ($161.8 million), the UK Disasters Emergency Committee ($133.8 million) and Japan ($116.2 million).

In addition, 482 private sector donors’ contributions to Ukraine's humanitarian response have reached over $1.6 billion.

The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) has been an essential source of funding for relief operations in the country. Since 24 February, the UHF has allocated $187 million through funding allocations. Of this funding, $117 million has already been disbursed to 67 projects implemented by 40 partners nationwide, cumulatively targeting 5 million people.

Some 19 per cent of the funds have been allocated directly to 11 national organizations, which are implementing 21 projects close to the front lines, supporting some of the most critically vulnerable people. The remaining 43 per cent of funding was allocated to 21 international NGOs and 37 per cent to 8 UN agencies.

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

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

General Audience - November 30, 2022

Celebriamo oggi la Festa dell’apostolo Sant’Andrea, fratello di Simon Pietro, Patrono della Chiesa che è in Costantinopoli, dove si è recata, come di consueto, una Delegazione della Santa Sede. Desidero esprimere il mio speciale affetto al caro fratello il Patriarca Bartolomeo I e all’intera Chiesa di Costantinopoli. L’intercessione dei Santi fratelli apostoli Pietro e Andrea, conceda presto alla Chiesa di godere pienamente della sua unità e la pace al mondo intero, specialmente in questo momento alla cara e martoriata Ucraina, sempre nel nostro cuore e nelle nostre preghiere.

Links to the full text in ITALIAN

Angelus - December 4, 2022

I wish everyone a good Sunday and a good continuation of the Advent journey. This Thursday, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. To her intercession let us entrust our prayer for peace, especially for the tortured Ukrainian people.

Auguro a tutti una buona domenica e un buon proseguimento del cammino di Avvento. Giovedì prossimo celebreremo la solennità dell’Immacolata. Alla sua intercessione affidiamo la nostra preghiera per la pace, specialmente per il martoriato popolo ucraino.

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