To help families fleeing Russian attacks in Ukraine, the United Nations launched on Tuesday (1) two coordinated humanitarian appeals. According to the secretary-general, Antônio Guterres, one of the appeals aims to raise funds to help the population that remains in Ukraine and the other seeks to meet the needs of those seeking refuge in nations in the region.
Guterres recalled that the UN has already transferred US$ 20 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to expand humanitarian work. As he explained, the international community needs to mobilize to support and finance the appeals. He recalled that the number of people affected by the war will continue to rise. The funds will help humanitarian agencies to be able to “treat all the needs of those displaced by the crisis”.
hospitals attacked
Catherine Russell, executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said the agency is receiving reports of “hospitals, schools and water and sanitation facilities” under fire in Ukraine, with explosives being dropped in populated areas.
According to her, there are children among the dead and injured, and the survivors are traumatized by the wave of violence. Russell reinforced the international call for an end to all military operations in Ukraine.