News of War Staff Writer
A local resident removes debris at the site where a residential building was destroyed during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine December 29, 2023. REUTERS/Nina Liashonok
United Nations Seeks $4.2 Billion for Ukrainian War Victims and Refugees in 2024
The United Nations, alongside its partners, issued a call on Monday for a substantial $4.2 billion in donor contributions. This funding is aimed at supporting communities in Ukraine devastated by war, as well as Ukrainian refugees, throughout 2024.
U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths highlighted the dire situation of young people in conflict zones: "Hundreds of thousands of children live in communities on the front lines of the war, terrified, traumatized and deprived of their basic needs." He emphasised the urgent need for action, stating, "That fact alone should compel us to do everything we can to bring more humanitarian assistance to Ukraine."
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), an alarming 40% of Ukraine's population, over 14.6 million people, require humanitarian aid this year as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The need is particularly acute in eastern and southern Ukraine, including Russian-occupied areas, where over 3.3 million people, notably in front-line communities, face significant challenges in receiving aid.
OCHA's appeal includes a request for $3.1 billion to assist 8.5 million people in critical need of humanitarian aid in 2024. Additionally, the U.N. refugee agency is seeking $1.1 billion to support 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees and their host communities.
Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, approximately 6.3 million individuals have been displaced abroad, with an additional four million, including nearly one million children, displaced within Ukraine, OCHA reports.
Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, addressed the plight of refugees: "Host countries continue to extend protection and include them in society, but many vulnerable refugees still need help." He stressed the importance of providing adequate support, adding, "They shouldn't feel pressed to return because they cannot make ends meet in exile."