A major new campaign of air strikes is worsening the humanitarian situation of the Ukrainian population and preventing the provision of aid commensurate with needs.
Attacks on the civilian population and infrastructure are multiplying in Ukraine following the launch of a new Russian offensive in May, and in retaliation for the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region on August 6. In the past few weeks, more than a hundred missiles, glide bombs, and drones hit civilian energy infrastructure, residential and recreational areas in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kyiv, Poltava, Lviv, and Kryvy Rih, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds. This is one of the largest campaign of air strikes since the extension of the conflict to the whole country. Â
Repeated targeting of civilian energy infrastructures
While the spring campaign of air strikes was aimed more at production capacities (transformers and lines), recent attacks have focused mainly on electrical infrastructures (thermal and hydroelectric power stations and substations). They have deprived the population of power for several hours in many Ukrainian cities, and could jeopardize the proper functioning of infrastructures for the coming winter period.
The deliberate targeting of civilian energy infrastructures is contributing to the worsening of the humanitarian situation of the Ukrainian population and constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. Action Against Hunger (ACF) is concerned about the impact of these attacks on access to essential services such as electricity, water and health care for populations already exhausted by more than two years of war.
Temporary suspension of our activities in the East
In Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region, the Ukrainian authorities have issued a mandatory evacuation order for families with children due to the fighting raging close to the city. The premises of Action Against Hunger’s Ukrainian partner Spilno, who implements mental health and psychological support activites, were damaged by air strikes. In view of the deteriorating security situation, Spilno has had to transfer its premises to the city of Dnipro, and psychological and psychosocial support sessions will be offered online.
In the Sumy region, in the north-east of the country, Action Against Hunger supports a health center and a mobile clinic to reach those who have decided to stay in their homes. But as the violence has significantly intensified, thousands of civilians have had to evacuate border villages and we had to stop the activities. On the other hand, due to the artillery fire and constant air alert, our Ukrainian partner Step by Step can no longer access patients, and online emotional stabilization sessions will be temporarily set up to support the affected population.
In the Kharkiv region, several mental health, psychosocial support and financial assistance programs have also been suspended for security reasons. In addition, the growing number of air attacks has delayed the delivery of equipment to the Vodokanal water management company, as well as the local implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene projects.
Humanitarian assistance for displaced persons
To support evacuees, Action Against Hunger’s teams in Kharkiv are carrying out an emergency intervention that combines the provision of financial assistance of around 10,800 hryvnias (around 237 euros) per person with psychological and psychosocial support sessions. Around 500 displaced people from border villages in Sumy region will benefit from this intervention in the coming days.
In the absence of a political resolution to the conflict, humanitarian needs will continue to grow in Ukraine. We call on the parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of humanitarian space and to facilitate humanitarian operations on the ground, particularly in rural areas and those close to the front line where aid is struggling to get through.
In the rest of the country, Action Against Hunger implements food security and livelihood activities with two main modalities: the distribution of hot meals and financial assistance. ACF is also active in the health sector, supporting primary healthcare centers and implementing psychological and psychosocial support programs. The last area of intervention is water, hygiene and sanitation, through three main modalities: our support to the water management company Vodokanal, the rehabilitation of collective shelters and the distribution of hygiene kits.
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