Ukraine: Humanitarian Impact of Intensified Hostilities in Donetska and Sumska Oblasts - Flash Update #6 (31 August 2024) [EN/UK]

HIGHLIGHTS

• Attacks across the country continued over the last several days, causing more civilian casualties and damage to critical civilian infrastructure.
• Local authorities in Donetska Oblast reported evacuating 3,400 civilians, including 350 children, between 7 and 29 August, and in Sumska Oblast, an increase in evacuations from the border area was also reported.
• Aid organizations continued emergency response to support people evacuated, including immediate assistance at transit centres, accommodation, transportation and relocation to safer parts of the country.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

As attacks resulted in civilian casualties across the country in recent days, in Donetska, east, and Sumska, north-east, oblasts, evacuations from front-line and border communities continue.

According to local authorities, 3,400 people, including 350 children, were evacuated from front-line areas in Donetska Oblast between 7 and 29 August. Basic services which remain still functional in the town of Pokrovsk are shrinking, which impacts access to basic needs of the civilian population, particularly older people, people with disabilities and families with children. An estimated 38,000 residents remain in the town of Pokrovsk, and local authorities called for mandatory evacuations of the civilian population as the security situation around the town is worsening every day. Banks reported closing down operations there at the end of August, with only ATMs remaining operational. The forced evacuation of families with children continues in Pokrovsk and the other 23 towns and villages of Donetska Oblast. On 26 August, the forced evacuation of children and their caretakers was announced in an additional 27 towns and villages in Kostiantynivska and Selydivska hromadas.

The deteriorating security situation in Illinivska Hromada and the increasing humanitarian needs of over 5,300 people remaining there spurred an increase in evacuations, including a mandatory evacuation for families with children. Residents mostly evacuate by their own means, relocating within Donetska Oblast or to safer regions of Ukraine, including Dnipro City. Almost half of the 25 towns and villages of the hromada are in proximity to the front line, which limits humanitarian access.

Further north-east, in Sumska Oblast, between 26-28 August, 114 people were evacuated through two transit centres in Sumy Cit. At the same time, the number of evacuations from the border areas has increased. The relocation of health facilities exacerbated the already increasing need for health services in both Donetska and Sumska oblasts.

The deteriorating security situation in Donetsk Oblast is impacting humanitarian access and complicating the operational environment for aid workers. For example, the road connecting Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka has been off-limits for two months due to the advancing front line, and deliveries to many communities, including through inter-agency convoys, have been affected due to the loss of humanitarian access. Additionally, warehousing capacity is severely limited due to extensive damage.