Ukraine Humanitarian Response 2023 Winter Attacks: Humanitarian Impact of Intensified Strikes and Hostilities – Flash Update #4 (2 Jan 2024) [EN/UK] – Ukraine | Public Health Jobs

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Public Health Jobs ,2024-01-02 17:24:51

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HIGHLIGHTS

The people of Ukraine have suffered another vast wave of airstrikes today, continuing a pattern of Russian attacks against densely populated cities and towns across the country that intensified on 29 December.

Today’s overnight strikes have shaken the capital, Kyiv, where humanitarian workers in the city have counted over 30 explosions. Destruction has been reported in nine of Kyiv’s ten districts.

The recent attacks and relentless hostilities have left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and water supplies, at a time when forecasts indicate that temperatures might drop to -20 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

In addition, since 29 December 2023, the World Health Organization’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) verified that at least 10 health-care facilities have been damaged across Ukraine.

Humanitarian partners continue to provide immediate aid to people impacted by the strikes, in close coordination with local authorities, and in support to teams from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine who are working tirelessly to pull the people trapped from under the rubble.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
The people of Ukraine have suffered another vast wave of airstrikes today, continuing a pattern of Russian attacks against densely populated cities and towns across the country that intensified on 29 December. Today’s overnight strikes have shaken the capital Kyiv, with residents reporting heavy sounds of explosions for several hours, particularly early in the morning. The aerial assault also seriously impacted civilians in Kyivska Oblast and Kharkiv City, leaving behind a path of death and injury as well as destruction of homes, energy and other civilian infrastructure. According to preliminary data shared by the Ukrainian authorities, nearly 100 people have been injured and at least 4 killed today, adding to the death toll reported over the past few days. In total, nearly 70 civilians have reportedly been killed and at least 360 injured due to airstrikes across the country since 29 December. The numbers are pending verification and might increase further as rescue operations continue. Russian authorities also reported new attacks in Belgorod Region, on the border with Ukrainian’s Kharkivska Oblast.
The new attacks and relentless hostilities have left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and water supplies, at a time when forecasts indicate that temperatures might drop to -20 degrees Celsius in the coming days. In Kyiv and Kyivska Oblast alone, more than 250,000 consumers – including families, businesses, and public institutions – have been temporarily cut off from power supplies following today’s strikes, which also impacted the water supply in several districts of the capital, according to Ukrenergo, the state-owned energy operator and Government sources.
Damages to energy infrastructure due to hostilities have left over 440 towns and villages without power supplies, mainly In the east, according to the Ministry of Energy. In addition, since 29 December, the World Health Organization’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) has verified that at least 10 health-care facilities have been damaged across Ukraine.
The bombardments and destruction not only expose millions to the risk of death or injury, but also other serious protection risks, including psychological distress and loss or damage of documentation, particularly affecting the most vulnerable and people from marginalized groups.
In Kyiv, humanitarian workers in the city counted over 30 explosions, and damages have been reported in nine of the capital’s ten districts. Many multi-storey residential buildings, a gas pipeline and business premises, including a supermarket, have been damaged and several of them caught fire, according to local authorities and UN staff who live in the city. Teams from the emergency services have reportedly evacuated over 130 people and rescued some 20 people from under the debris, as search and rescue operations continue. The city authorities informed that nearly 50 residents have been injured and nearly 40 hospitalized. One woman reportedly died on her way to the hospital, according to the Government.
Across Kyivska oblast, several raions, including areas surrounding Bucha, have been impacted, reportedly leaving over 30 apartment buildings, at least two schools and several businesses damaged, according to preliminary information from local authorities.
The city of Kharkiv, was badly impacted again, adding to the damage and loss caused by almost daily attacks over the past few days. Humanitarian workers in the city have witnessed significant damage in residential areas, and preliminary findings of assessments indicate over 70 buildings have been damaged in the city since 29 December. Gas and heating supply facilities were damaged today, leading to power cuts and heating disruptions in some parts of the city. At the time of the reporting, 1 civilian had been confirmed killed, and nearly 50 civilians, including 5 children, had been injured, and most of them had to be rushed to hospitals.
Bombardments have also damaged homes and impacted civilians in other parts of Ukraine, including in Lvivska Oblast in the west, where education facilities and residential buildings have been hit. Over the past few days, children have been killed or injured in Kherson and Odesa, as well as Donetska Oblast, the south and east of Ukraine. Homes have also been hit Chernihivska and Sumska in the north, where cross-border shelling and has been relentless, while intense hostilities reportedly killed and injured several civilians and damaged homes and energy facilities in front-line communities of Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Khersonska, Odeska and Zaporizka oblasts, including in the Russian occupied areas.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Humanitarian partners continue to provide immediate aid to people impacted by these waves of strikes, in close coordination with local authorities, and in support to teams from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine working tirelessly to rescue people trapped from under the rubble.
In Kyiv, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society has been providing first aid to the people affected by the attack since the early hours of the morning, in addition to food, while the World Central Kitchen is complementing with meals and hot drinks. Local authorities established a temporary support centre for people whose houses have been damaged in the capital.
In Kyivska Oblast, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and international organizations, including ACTED, Global Empowerment Mission, and other local actors are supporting people with repair materials and shelter support.
In Kharkiv, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and the NGO Proliska, among others, are providing first medical and psychological aid to the affected people, while World Central Kitchen has brought hot meals and drinks. Proliska has also delivered blankets and is distributing materials for emergency repairs. The INGO International Rescue Committee has provided psychological support and multi-purpose cash assistance in Kharkiv over the past few days.
Emergency response after the previous attacks from 29 December to 1 January also continued across Ukraine.
Health partners, including the World Health Organization and the NGO International Medical Corps have provided medical supplies, including trauma and emergency surgery kits and dressing materials, in addition to small repairs to facilities damaged in Dnipropetrovska, Kharkivska and Zaporizka Oblasts. The NGO Stichting Vluchteling has supplied emergency burn kits to the Kharkiv Regional Hospital.
Protection actors deployed their teams, including protection specialists, social workers, psychologists and lawyers to affected locations Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Khmelnytska and Sumska oblasts to provide psycho-social support and immediate legal assistance to survivors. They also identify cases where people need further support and refer the most vulnerable people to specialized services.
For more information, please contact OCHA Ukraine:
Saviano Abreu, [email protected] Lyudmyla Malyuk, [email protected]

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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA’s activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

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