Weekly Update #50
February 13

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

(As of  February 5, 2023)

Civilian casualties from 24 February 2022 – 5 February 2023

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 18,817 civilian casualties in the country.

This included 7,155 killed:

• 2,853 men, 1,927 women, 180 girls, and 226 boys, as well as 32 children and 1,937 adults whose sex is yet unknown)

Injured 11,662 injured:

• 2,576 men, 1,833 women, 248 girls, and 339 boys, as well as 264 children and 6,402 adults whose sex is yet unknown) 

Civilian casualties from 1 to 31 January 2023

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 697 civilian casualties in Ukraine:

This included:  177 killed (67 men, 48 women, 4 girls, 5 boys, as well as 53 adults whose sex is not yet known); 

and 520 injured (153 men, 81 women, 9 girls, 13 boys, as well as 12 children and 252 adults whose sex is not yet known).

Source: OHCHR

THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

To respond to the massive increase of humanitarian needs caused by the Russian invasion, humanitarian organizations had to quickly expand operations across Ukraine to meet the growing needs. The number of humanitarian organizations operating in Ukraine and contributing to the scaled-up response increased almost six-fold from about 120 at the beginning of the war to 700 by the end of the year, 60 per cent of which were local non-governmental organizations. 

To ensure urgent and life-saving assistance to the Ukrainian people, humanitarians facilitated thousands of convoys to all parts of Ukraine under Government control. This included nearly 30 inter-agency convoys to deliver critical supplies to more than 315,000 people in areas close to the front line, where needs are more severe. In many destinations, aid organizations relied on the incredible support of local community and volunteer groups to carry out the distribution of the supplies provided by UN agencies and NGOs.

Access

Humanitarian access in Ukraine significantly deteriorated after the start of the full-scale war in February 2022, hampering aid operations, particularly in the east. In the first months of the war, aid organizations had to quickly expand operations to meet the fast-growing humanitarian needs, at the same time as navigating increased challenges imposed by the complete stoppage of flights – both passenger and cargo – damage to road and rail services, and shortage of fuel. This exacerbated the access

The situation is particularly concerning in areas under Russian military control. The restrictions on movement of humanitarian staff to or within areas under Russian control and the blockage of the movement of relief supplies across the front line imposed tremendous challenges and limited humanitarian assistance in these parts of the country.

Since the escalation of the war, no inter-agency humanitarian convoys have been able to cross between the two areas, despite repeated attempts and notifications to the Russian Federation. Interference in implementing humanitarian activities by Russian-installed authorities in all areas beyond Government control, including the suspension of permissions to operate in certain areas, imposed additional obstacles for independent humanitarian action in this part of the country.

Some bureaucratic impediments have also been reported in areas under Ukrainian control. These included visa delays, mainly due to Government systems being overstretched, a lack of clarity over the registration process for newly established national and international NGOs, risk of mobilization for male staff of humanitarian organizations, and unresolved issues around the value-added tax (VAT) exemptions for humanitarian aid.

Anti-Crisis Hub for people affected by the war launched in Dnipro

From the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provided grants to support more than 50 non-governmental

organizations (NGOs), including those forced to move from the active combat zones to safer parts of Ukraine to continue their activities.

The “Slavic Heart” Charity Fund from Sviatohirsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast and “MARTIN Club” NGO received a joint grant from UNDP and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to open the “Zatyshok” Anti-Crisis Transit Hub for internally displaced people in Dnipro.

The hub will help with evacuation from dangerous areas in Donetsk Oblast, provide a wide range of legal, social and psychological services for displaced people, and also facilitate the search for permanent places of residence and further employment in new communities.  UNDP declared this initiative as a step to build on the potential of Ukraine’s civil society whose efforts are solid foundations towards the recovery of Ukraine

The Department of Family and Youth Affairs of Donetsk Oblast State Administration and private business will also contribute to the project. The grant project will be implemented with financial support from the Government of Denmark, provided within the framework of the UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Program.

Source: UNDP

Priorities for Health System Recovery in Ukraine - Joint Discussion Paper

A joint discussion paper by WHO, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Ukraine, the World Bank and the European Union (EU) highlights key priorities for the recovery of the health system in Ukraine over the next 2 years amid the Russian Federation’s ongoing invasion.

The document, Priorities for Health System Recovery in Ukraine, which is intended to complement Ukraine’s National Recovery Plan, was informed by discussions with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. 

It presents an analysis of critical priorities for the health sector across 4 domains:

• service delivery – finding early opportunities to restore priority health services in ways that scale up the Government of Ukraine’s vision for health service reform, while addressing critical health risks facing the Ukrainian people due to the impacts of the war;

• capital investment – identifying critical choices and trade-offs for the Government and its partners to consider when planning for major investments in recovery and reconstruction with long-term consequences for the health system, to enable Ukraine to protect health in the near term while building back better for the long term;

• health financing – setting financing priorities to sustain essential services in the face of severe fiscal constraints and achieve more with the available funds; and

• strengthening institutions – supporting the needs of the central and local government health-sector institutions responsible for policy, planning, stewardship and governance functions, and sustaining ongoing health-care financing and governance reforms that are vital to an effective, accountable health-care system and Ukraine’s aspirations of European integration.

It was noted by the WHO Representative in Ukraine that the national health system continues to function and provide health services to millions of Ukrainians with support from development partners and the humanitarian community.

The joint document was created with an understanding that, despite ongoing security, humanitarian and economic challenges, the Government of Ukraine and its partners are implementing emergency actions to stabilize the system while planning for longer-term recovery and rebuilding.  The USAID expressed its commitment to support the reform and recovery of Ukraine’s health care system, while helping to provide public health services during a time of war.  It was observed by the World Bank that current actions are aligned with long-term reform vision.  For this reason, paper outlines the path these major partners will take to realize this vision.  

With the war continuing into 2023, the paper acknowledges that critical choices and trade-offs will have to be made in allocating scarce resources. Both national authorities and international supporters will face decisions on what investments could bring the most benefit to the population and the health system during a period of significant need.  In addition, the EU Delegation to Ukraine highlighted that the continuation of the progress in rebuilding the public health system will strengthen the prospects of Ukraine’s integration into the EU.

The new joint discussion paper contributes to the ongoing dialogue regarding a well-considered and prioritized response, which is essential to rebuilding a smarter, more efficient health system in the country. Ukraine and its partners face an historic opportunity to approach these challenges in ways that help to address new needs while restoring access to essential services that have been disrupted due to the war, and setting the country on track for sustainable progress towards universal health coverage.

Source: Priorities for Health System Recovery in Ukraine - Joint Discussion Paper

Real-Time Response Review of Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal 2022 for Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) - Ukraine Country Report

On 3 March 2022, DEC launched the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA), which has raised £400 million to date, of which £215 million was allocated in Phase 1 and £86 million spent. 13 Member Charities responded as part of the DEC appeal, working with partners in Ukraine and four neighbouring countries: Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Hungary.

As part of its commitment to accountability and learning, the DEC commissioned this Real-Time Response Review, its aim being ‘to instigate collective real-time reflection and learning to inform adjustments across DEC Members’ responses.’ It draws on the experience of initial phase of the response to help formulate lessons to be applied in real-time and to the second phase of the response. 

The approach of the Review was to support real-time learning as part of the Review process and to further support this and future learning with reports and inputs to workshops. In line with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), which is itself at the centre of the DEC’s Learning and Accountability Framework, the Review was centred on affected people. In execution, it was rapid and light in touch, and used participatory and qualitative methods. It sought to hear from all the main stakeholders (affected people, aid workers, local organisations, DEC Members and others), to reflect and report on what was heard and from this to draw conclusions and propose recommendations. 

Highlights of findings

The review used the 9 commitments of the CHS as the main framework to draw out feedback from the key informants (further details in Annex).  Key findings include:

CHS1 - Humanitarian response is appropriate and relevant.

The Review found that the response has been appropriate and relevant. Noting that in the early days and quite understandably, the response was somewhat disorganized.  However, as it progressed, and with support from international organizations such as the DEC Members, it became more structured. A positive point is the flexibility of DEC funding. Looking forward, there is a need to ensure that Members continue with good practice, such as contingency planning, to ensure the response adapts to the changing context (winter and conflict).

CHS 2 - Humanitarian response is effective and timely.

 The initial response, mainly conducted by local organizations, community groups and individuals, was timely. Most, but not all, DEC Members did not have a presence on the ground and took time to develop their response. Those who had a presence were able to respond more quickly. The effectiveness of the response was helped by good coordination with national and local Government, with concerted efforts to reach all those in need. The preferred response modality was cash, noting that this was complemented by in-kind assistance and services where needed.

CHS 3 - Humanitarian response strengthens local capacities and avoids negative effects. The Review found that DEC Members has strengthened local capacities, and especially of their local partners. The DEC Members developed good relationships with local organizations, and navigated well some of the challenges involved, such as how to apply humanitarian principles and reporting requirements. Local partners valued the support provided, the flexibility and willingness to engage with innovative approaches. An issue that needs further attention is the allocation of funds to local organizations.

CHS 4 - Humanitarian response is based on communication, participation, and feedback. The Review found that the Members have made significant efforts to ensure that the response has been guided by communication, participation and feedback. Much of this has been through Government, local partners and community groups. There is an issue of how affected people can actually participate, partly because of their situation and their lack of prior experience in participatory processes. An area for attention is the harmonization of communication with affected people, to ensure all have access to the information they need in an appropriate format.

CHS 5 - Complaints are welcomed and addressed: 

Mechanisms have been set up to collect complaints and feedback and some have attracted much feedback. However, it was noted that most affected people are not used to, and may be wary of, providing complaints and feedback. There may be scope to use local leaders as channels for this feedback. 

CHS 6 - Humanitarian response is coordinated and complementary.

Coordination is seen to be good at the national level, amongst the international humanitarian agencies and larger local organizations who engage well in the Cluster system. Coordination is also seen to be good at local level, notably with local authorities. However, there is room for further improvement in engaging many local organizations / Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the coordination system. A challenge was noted in the management of referrals to ensure that people do not get lost in the system. It was noted that there is scope for DEC Members to coordinate better with each other, to maximize the added value of DEC funding, whilst complementing existing coordination structures.

CHS 7 - Humanitarian actors continuously learn and improve.

The Review found a solid pattern of continuous leaning and improvement. This ranged from the formal use of MEAL systems, the provision of training and capacity strengthening by DEC Members in humanitarian principles and practice (such as needs assessment and Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)). Local organizations appreciate the learning support from international organizations (learning from others), and especially DEC Members, and have actively engaged in learning from their own experience. There is scope to enhance the sharing of learning between DEC Members, such as sharing key findings from their own individual agency reviews.

CHS 8 - Staff are supported to do their job effectively and are treated fairly and equitably.

 It was noted that DEC Members have good policies in this area and have made considerable efforts in practice. As was noted above, Members have invested in training, capacity strengthening and learning support. However, there is still considerable room for improvement in the actual implementation of good practice, especially with local organizations and community responders, notably on managing excessive workload and burnout.

CH 9 - Resources are managed effectively, efficiently, and ethically. The DEC Members have long experience in this area, and it was noted that they brought this to bear in Ukraine in a variety of ways, such as the commitment to coordination, the support for capacity strengthening and learning. One suggestion to improve the utilization of resources was the establishment of a local mechanism to directly provide funding and support to smaller local organizations.

 Summary of conclusions:

The Review concludes that the DEC Members are doing a good job in difficult circumstances, including developing good relationships with local organizations. There is a strong commitment to engaging with affected people, noting that there are practical challenges here. The flexibility of DEC funding is highly appreciated. While it took some time for most DEC Members to ramp up their response, they are now generally up to speed. 

The main modality in the response has been the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance. The commitment to and implementation of learning has been good, especially between DEC Members and local partners, noting there is scope to improve the sharing of learning between DEC Members. An area for further development is the funding of smaller local organizations. In view of the rapidly changing situation (winter and conflict), there is a need to ensure that humanitarian assistance continues to evolve to meet changing needs, supported by good practice such as contingency planning and regular risk assessments.

The review submitted specific recommendations that focused on:

1.   Preparing in advance for the 2023/24 winterization, which has shown to be a    challenging period for affected populations and humanitarian organizations.

2.   Developing guidelines and frameworks for members to prevent shortages of needed items.

3.   Strengthen participatory contingency planning, drawing feedback from partners and affected populations.

4.  Provide direct funding to local organizations, in parallel with the sub-grants system.

5.  Have a systematic process of turnover between DEC members and local partners to facilitate transitions, mainly through capacity-building programs.

Source: DEC: Real-Time Response Review of Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal 2022 for Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) - Ukraine Country Report (Submitted 07 February 2023)

Quarter of Ukrainians at risk of severe mental health conditions 

A quarter of Ukraine's population is at risk of developing a severe mental health condition as the country grapples with the year-long Russian invasion, a senior health official said on Thursday.

Michel Kazatchkine, a member of the Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy, said the conflict in Ukraine had not only resulted in a shortage of medical supplies and personnel but had also caused a major threat to mental health.

The World Health Organization "estimates that at this time, one out of four people in Ukraine is at risk of severe mental health conditions," Kazatchkine, who also serves as special adviser to the WHO's Regional Office for Europe, said. "The economic downturn comes on a background of fragile health systems and very constrained health budgets," he added.

Kazatchkine said the health crisis in Ukraine was expected to spread to other parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, partly as a result of an economic downturn in Russia, whose economy is closely linked to that of many other former Soviet republics.

Source: Reuters

UN Security Council Statements on the Ukraine War

In anticipation of the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine War, the UN delivered statements that underscored the horrible consequences of the war, particularly on civilians.  

The Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Martin Griffiths mentioned the devastation the war has brought, but lauded the resiliency of the Ukrainian people.  The safety of civilians and civilian objects should be observed, as civilian casualties continue to rise.  He emphasized the need to sustain and expand the humanitarian response in 2023, as the numbers of people in need had grown exponentially.  

The impacts of the war on global food, energy prices, and trade and supply chains were also a concern, citing the Black Sea Grain Initiatives as a strategy to maintain food security.  The extension of the initiation beyond the forthcoming expiration in March must be faced.

In a briefing to the Security Council by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, likewise emphasized that civilian safety should be a priority in the war. In addition, she pointed out the potential dangers posed by the large-scale influx of weapons into any situation of armed conflict, which may escalate the conflict and divert the arms to other regions.  She thus pushed for measures to counter the potential diversion weapons to ensure regional security and stability.  These measures should cover risk assessments and cooperation between importing, transit and exporting countries, including border control mechanisms.   The observance of International norms regarding arms transfer is of highest importance.

Sources: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths Remarks to the UN Security Council on Ukraine, 6 February 2022

Briefing to the Security Council on threats to international peace and security - Statement by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (8 February 2023)

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

General Audience - February 8, 2023

Let us not forget the suffering of the Ukrainian people, so battered: with this cold, without light, without heating, and at war.

Non dimentichiamo la sofferenza del popolo ucraino, così martoriato: con questo freddo, senza luce, senza riscaldamento, e in guerra.

Angelus - February 12, 2023

And let us not forget tormented Ukraine: may the Lord open ways of peace and give those responsible the courage to follow them.

E non dimentichiamo la martoriata Ucraina: che il Signore apra vie di pace e dia ai responsabili il coraggio di percorrerle.

NEWS

'We cannot defend ourselves without arms,' Ukrainian archbishop says in a Catholic panel

Quarter of Ukrainians at risk of severe mental health conditions - adviser

Father Andrii Gakh: war teaches to value peace and to be true Christians (Google translate)

Roman Diocese declares February 24 a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Ukraine (Google translate)

"Thank you for your mercy and open hearts that save Ukrainians today," - His Beatitude Svyatoslav to the delegation from the USA (Google translate)

The Pope is unequivocally on the side of Ukraine, Ambassador Yuras (Google translate)