The United Nations must strengthen its efforts to provide all necessary assistance and protection to Ukrainian civilians, who are suffering from the effects of conflict, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday.
The conflict in Ukraine has remained an active one – with a daily impact on civilians on both sides of the “contact line” – as coping mechanisms are stretched to their limit, said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller.
Since April 2014, an armed conflict between government troops and pro-independence insurgents has been underway in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donbas.
According to Mueller, after five years of conflict that saw more than 3,300 civilians killed and up to 9,000 injured, 3.5 million people still need humanitarian assistance and protection.
Half a million people live within only five kilometers of the “contact line” where shelling, gunfire, landmines and unexploded ordnances put them – many of whom are elderly, women and children in danger, she added.
Noting that the freedom of movement of people affected by this crisis must improve, Mueller implored all parties to immediately cease using landmines and to work with mine-action partners to provide awareness to civilians and plan for demining.
Since April 2014, over 1,000 civilians were killed or injured by mines and explosive remnants of war, said Mueller, adding that mine-related incidents was the leading cause of casualties among children last year.
All efforts must be made to increase humanitarian funding, she added. “Humanitarian organizations remain committed to provide relief to the people of Ukraine, but unfortunately, as of today, only 9 percent of the funding they require has been received.”
“The people of Ukraine continue to suffer the effects of this conflict,” Mueller said. “We must redouble our efforts to provide them with all necessary assistance and protection.”
