Initially marked by Ukrainian advances that allowed humanitarian access to areas cut off since February, October saw Russia stepping up its attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure across the country. Since 10 October, Russian attacks have destroyed 30 per cent of Ukraine’s power stations and damaged other key infrastructure, resulting in blackouts and shortages of clean water across many major cities and towns. The renewed focus of the Russian attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure are a grim reminder of the uncertainty and challenges lying ahead with winter in Ukraine.
With many spending time in basements and bunkers, “the destruction of houses and lack of access to fuel or electricity due to the damaged infrastructure could become a matter of life of death if people are unable to heat their homes” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe.
Winterization support remains a high priority across the humanitarian response as IOM delivers on preparedness support, including procurement, distribution, light repairs, support for basic needs, and prepositioning of goods for continued assistance throughout the winter months. Provision of fuel and heating devices, including for communal spaces, will also provide acute support including to those affected by damaged infrastructure. Areas in which the government of Ukraine recently gained control are in particular need, and IOM has been amongst the first on the ground to many of these areas to assess the situation and provide acute, life-saving support.
The Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified that, as of 9 October, there have been at least 15,592 civilian casualties – with 6,221 people having been killed and 9,371 injured since the start of the full-scale invasion. OHCHR also recorded 680 casualties in Ukraine just from 1 to 16 October.
The Internal Displacement Report released by IOM on 2 October reported that the total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine decreased from 6,975,000 million to 6,243,000 million, or 732,000 since 23 August. The surveyed population indicated cash as their most pressing need, followed by medicine and health services – 43% of IDPs countrywide also indicated a need for heating appliances for the winter. Another recent report by IOM indicated more than 6 million people who, after being displaced, were back in their place of habitual residence as of 26 September. It remains unclear how recent developments in the war are affecting this group and whether their being in habitual residences is temporary or more long-lasting.
In the difficult context currently facing Ukraine, including the damage to its infrastructure and coming winter weather, the Deputy Prime Minster of Ukraine, Iryna Vereshchuk, advised Ukrainian refugees to stay abroad until spring to avoid overburdening the already overwhelmed energy system.
Source: International Organization for Migration