UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Ukraine. Top stories of the day | Thursday: Ukraine, Gaza, Afghanistan UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: escalation in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, UN agencies forced to cut aid in Gaza, responses to heavy rains and floods in Afghanistan, High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Ukraine.
War in Ukraine
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over the past 24 hours, the escalation of hostilities in the Donetsk region, in eastern Ukraine, has led to another wave of forced displacement. Local authorities report 30 civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. The city of Pokrovsk was particularly hard hit, having come under repeated shelling over the past week. The UN and partners are providing essential emergency assistance to those affected, including supplies to repair damaged structures, as well as psychological and legal support.
Gaza Crisis
New evacuation orders in Gaza have led to the “largest population displacement since October.” UN humanitarian agencies are therefore warning of the need to reduce food aid rations in the enclave. The UN World Food Program (WFP) said that in addition to increased demand, many distribution points have been forced to close and only a few bakeries remain open. Gaza City will have to cut rations again to help more people forced to flee their homes again, according to OCHA.
Floods in Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, the UN is coordinating the response to heavy rains and flooding in the east and northeast of the country with de facto authorities and partners. According to initial reports, more than 40 people were killed and more than 250 were injured, and 573 houses were destroyed or damaged. Humanitarian workers report that 734 families are in urgent need of assistance. Aid agencies have stressed that additional funding is needed to support victims and to protect families living outdoors or in makeshift shelters. To date, less than a quarter of the amount needed for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan this year has been received, the UN noted.
Help for Ukrainians
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, visiting Ukraine, announced an additional $100 million to help war-affected Ukrainians survive the third winter of the war. He stated this while speaking in Kharkov at a meeting on the energy situation. This is Grandi’s fifth visit to Ukraine since the escalation of the war in February 2022 and the third to Kharkiv. To prevent further displacement and keep homes safe and warm, the UN Refugee Agency has launched a comprehensive plan to prepare for next winter.