© UNDOB/A. Obukhov A UN vehicle was severely damaged in two drone strikes in Kherson, Ukraine (file photo). Ukraine: UN coordinator calls for protection of humanitarian workers Humanitarian assistance
Ahead of World Humanitarian Day, which is celebrated on August 19, UN Resident Coordinator for Ukraine Matthias Schmale called for the protection of humanitarian workers.
He recalled that last week in Kherson, two employees of the mobile psychosocial support group of the NGO “Culture of Democracy” were injured while responding to a call in connection with a case of domestic violence. The group works with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and also collaborates with the organization “Successful Woman”, supported by the International Organization for Migration. On the way back, their car was hit by a drone. Now their condition is stable.
In May, the group’s driver, Elena Tarasenko, was injured when her car came under fire. She died from her injuries in July.
“This trend is deeply concerning. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports a 38 percent increase in attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian infrastructure in the first quarter of 2026,” Schmale noted. (“Norwegian People’s Aid” – editor’s note) in Kherson,” he said.
Shmale expressed solidarity with the victims. “I honor the memory of Elena Tarasenko and all the humanitarian workers who gave their lives in the line of duty,” Shmale said.
Staff of organizations such as Culture of Democracy and Successful Woman risk their lives to support survivors of gender-based violence, as well as women and girls on the front lines. communities.
“It’s a kind of ‘invisible front’: work that rarely makes headlines, but on which thousands of people depend,” said Schmale. he. Yet funding for such organizations continues to decline.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of workers is not a matter of choice…Protecting humanitarian workers on the front lines is our shared responsibility. “I call on partners and donors to ensure continued security support for women’s rights organizations in frontline areas,” Shmale said.
Humanitarian personnel and humanitarian infrastructure are protected by international humanitarian law, he recalled. “Attacks against them must be treated as war crimes and stopped immediately,” Schmale said.