February 24, 2022 will soon mark three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In these wars, thousands of civilians have been killed and essential infrastructure destroyed, putting a huge strain on the economy.
The United Nations confirmed the loss of 28,000 civilians and over 10,000 lives. However, the United Nations has expressed fears that the actual number could be much higher.
As battle lines shift and the conflict escalates, more than 14 million Ukrainian citizens are in need of humanitarian assistance. The conflict has led to the biggest refugee crisis since World War II. More than 6.3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries and 3.7 million are internally displaced.
This means that almost a third of the population has been forced to flee their homes, more than half of whom are Ukrainian children. 30 percent of the employment opportunities that existed before the Russian invasion have been lost, and people are facing increased taxes and lack of funding.
Apart from this, they also have the problem of frequent power outages due to attacks on energy plants.
life support
UN agencies were at the center of relief operations during violent conflicts. They worked closely with Ukrainian authorities, local partners and volunteers to reach those in need, particularly communities living in conflict zones.
In this context, emergency assistance is being provided to every part of the country. UN agencies are trying to clear landmines and debris, provide basic services, find shelter for displaced people, and provide health care, including mental health and psychosocial support.
Last year, the World Food Program (WFP) provided food and cash assistance to 1.6 million Ukrainians every month, cleared landmines from agricultural land and provided feeding programs in schools and other institutions. By 2024, the UN humanitarian office will provide health care to 2.6 million people.
Despite continued bombings, reconstruction continues in Ukraine. Projects focused on the construction and repair of schools, hospitals, social housing, heating plants and water systems and other social infrastructure are progressing.
Fear of constant attacks has not stopped efforts to rebuild damaged energy infrastructure. UN agencies and their partners are providing 500 MW of electricity generation and solar energy needed for electricity, water and heating.
Decentralization is emphasized to ensure that every area, including small towns and villages, is not less dependent on large power plants. This reduces the chance of their location being plunged into darkness in the event of an air raid.
The destruction of a single large power plant can paralyze a large area and shut down the grid for thousands of people, but a decentralized system is able to withstand attacks from a large number of smaller, renewable plants. Solar panels can be replaced in a day if destroyed in a bomb attack.
‘When the sirens stop, the future begins’
According to senior UN officials, large numbers have left Ukraine, but those who remain are content to stay. For Matthias Schammel, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, the people’s morale and willingness to move forward during the conflict is a testament to their resilience.
Speaking to UN News, Matthias Schammel expressed hope that the UN’s commitment to support the citizens of Ukraine for as long as necessary will give them hope for a better and dignified future.
“I see people starting to rebuild as soon as possible, whether it’s a business, a home or getting their life back on track. As soon as the sirens go off, work for the future begins. “People don’t want to leave here.”
Kenan Madio, UNICEF’s head of field operations in Ukraine, praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people. “Despite the competition and so much they have endured, they want to stay in their area, in their village,” he told UN News in a recent interview. I don’t want to leave him.”
“No one dreams of leaving, everyone dreams of staying here so that hopefully when this war stops, the population of Ukraine will immediately be ready to rebuild in a better way.”
The characterization of Ukrainians as a resilient population is not mere hearsay: a UN-backed survey based on interviews with more than seven thousand people in government-controlled areas confirms that feelings of patriotism and love for the motherland are still very strong. ukrainian
The results of this study highlight the national identity of Ukraine as a unified force in this situation of war.
The road to rehabilitation is expensive
However, the challenges facing the country are huge and very costly. According to a joint assessment by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations, the total cost of reconstruction and rehabilitation is estimated at 468 billion rupees.
As winter temperatures drop below freezing, the UN’s Winter Humanitarian Action Plan aims to meet urgent needs, including solid fuel, cash assistance and repairs to water systems. About $500 million is needed to fully implement these efforts by March 2025.
UN humanitarian officials will visit Ukraine to assess the latest situation before issuing a new humanitarian appeal. A humanitarian aid appeal of $2.2 billion is being prepared for 2025 to help 12.7 million people.