Weekly Update #41
December 12

General Figures

Refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe 

7,832,493

Last updated 6 Dec 2022

Refugees from Ukraine registered for Temporary Protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe 

4,805,531 

Last updated 6 Dec 2022

Border crossings from Ukraine (since 24 February 2022)

16,087,565

Last updated 6 Dec 2022

Border crossings to Ukraine (since 28 February 2022)

8,309,718

Last updated 6 Dec 2022

Source:  https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine

Since Russia began its war of aggression in February 2022, almost five million Ukrainian refugees have fled to EU and other OECD countries.

Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic have received the largest numbers of migrants, taking in 1.4m, 1m and 400,000 refugees, respectively. Relative to total population, Estonia and the Czech Republic have received more than 40 refugees per thousand inhabitants, with Poland (36 per thousand), Lithuania (23 per thousand) and Latvia (20 per thousand) close behind.

About half of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure for electricity has been “damaged more,” with some deemed “totally destroyed” by the country’s infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov. As for the country's energy, state supplier Ukrenergo maintains that the situation “remains difficult but under control."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday the frontline situation remains very difficult in the key areas of Donbas — Bakhmut, Soledar, Mariinka, Kreminna, with heavy fighting in Donestk that has suffered extensive destruction.  

Sources: Population displacement and casualties – DG ECHO Daily Map | 09/12/2022

IMC Ukraine Crisis - Situation Report #24 (December 9, 2022)

CNN December 9, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

Source: OHCHR Civilian casualties as of 4 December 2022

This week’s Update focuses on vital issues that have become primary concerns in the Ukrainian war, as it rages into its 9th month.  These are:

1. Human rights, particularly in terms of attacks on civilians

2. The effectiveness of cash assistance programs, which have become a priority intervention in the humanitarian response

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UN report details human rights violations by Russian troops during initial weeks of invasion

A UN Human Rights report based on the work of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine details how Russian troops killed civilians in Ukrainian towns and villages across the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine from 24 February until 6 April 2022.

According to the HRMMU Mission Head, Matilde Bogner, the summary executions examined in the report may constitute a war crime. The report explains how killings of civilians were not confined to specific locations, although some areas were more affected than others. In the town of Bucha near Kyiv, which was under the control of Russian troops from 5 to 30 March, the Mission documented the killing of 73 civilians (54 men, 16 women, 2 boys and 1 girl) and is in the process of corroborating an additional 105 alleged killings.

Main Findings

1. The report states that the UN has, so far, documented the violent deaths of 441 civilians (341 men, 72 women, 20 boys and 8 girls) in the three regions in the initial 6 weeks of the Russian invasion alone. Actual figures are likely to be considerably higher as work is still ongoing to corroborate an additional 198 killings that occurred in the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine occupied by Russia in the initial stages of the ongoing armed attack against Ukraine

2. The report likewise covers cases when Russian troops launched attacks that did not respect the principle of distinction between military objectives and civilians, and failed to take all feasible precautions to spare civilians

3. Killings of civilians were not confined to specific locations, although some areas were more affected than others. In the town of Bucha near Kyiv, which was under the control of Russian troops from 5 to 30 March, the Mission documented the killing of 73 civilians (54 men, 16 women, 2 boys and 1 girl) and is in the process of corroborating these. 

4. In examining 100 killings in detail, the report states that 57 amounted to summary executions (48 men, 7 women and 2 boys). Thirty of those took place in places of detention while the remaining 27 victims were killed on the spot, shortly after coming under the control of Russian forces.

5. Men and boys comprised 88 percent of all victims of summary executions, suggesting that males were disproportionately targeted on the basis of their gender.

UN report details summary executions of civilians by Russian troops in northern Ukraine

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Multi-purpose cash assistance program reviewed

Multi-Purpose Cash (MPC) assistance is one of the most efficient and effective ways to support people forced to flee their homes, jobs and belongings, or who remain in areas heavily affected by the international armed conflict. It serves as a transitional safety net pending the individual’s ability to find a job or be included in national social protection schemes.

Families  can  purchase  goods  and  services  from  local  businesses  which  boosts  the economy and benefits host  communities.  Cash  assistance  respects  the dignity  of choice and independence of displaced and conflict affected people, providing a sense of normality and ownership, allowing them to decide what they need most.

Multi-purpose cash assistance programs have been a primary component of the humanitarian response in Ukraine.  UN agencies, such as UNHCR, IOM, WFP, and UNICEF, consider this as a significant strategic pillar and have their respective criteria and procedures.

To assess the effectiveness and coverage of the cash assistance distributed, UNHCR undertook an assessment among 417  beneficiary households early into the start of the  UNHCR  program on the use of the cash, the impact of this assistance, and on potential non-compliance issues they may have faced during the process of cash collection.

MAIN FINDINGS

• A sizeable proportion of the respondents (86 percent) reported that cash assistance enabled them to cover all or most of their priority needs. 

• Most of the interviewed beneficiaries (95 percent) reported that the cash assistance reduced the financial burden on their households, reduced their feeling of stress (91 percent), and improved their living conditions (98 percent). 

• Cash assistance was directed to three main items:  food (93% of respondents), rent (52%), and hygiene items (47%).  

• Most households opt to give up on hygiene, health, and education needs as a way of coping with cash shortage. 

• 97 percent of beneficiaries found the cash assistance system efficient, particularly in withdrawing. Among those who needed help the main cited reasons were limited mobility and difficulties with reading instructions due to disabilities, medical conditions, or old age. 

Over the duration of the war, the multi-purpose cash assistance programs of the different agencies have reached a total of 4.3 million people out of a targeted 6.1 million beneficiaries, according to the OCHA report.  This program has an estimated budget of 1.72 billion between March-December 2022.

Sources: UNHCR Cash Assistance Fact Sheet

UNHCR Multi-purpose Cash Assistance Post-Distribution Monitoring Report Ukraine - June 2022

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

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Council of EU adopts €18 billion assistance to Ukraine

The Council of the European Union reached agreement on a legislative package which will enable the EU to help Ukraine financially throughout 2023 with €18 billion. The proposal was adopted by the Council today via a written procedure and it will be submitted to the European Parliament for its possible adoption next week.

The package provides for a structural solution to financially support Ukraine in 2023. The amount to be lent to Ukraine in 2023 will be €18 billion, and the loans will have a 10-year grace period. Member states will cover the bulk of the interest costs via external assigned revenues. The guarantees for that borrowing will be provided either by the EU budget or by member states.

The aim is to provide short-term financial relief, financing Ukraine’s immediate needs, rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and initial support towards sustainable post-war reconstruction, with a view to supporting Ukraine on its path towards European integration.

Caritas Ukraine:  A child-friendly space is a place where it is safe and cozy, where it is interesting and calm. Today, the kids in Prostory spend a lot of time thinking about Ukraine. And a relentless desire to help the Motherland 

https://www.facebook.com/312164434215/posts/10160628196419216