Throughout September, relentless attacks across Ukraine continued to claim lives and cause immense suffering to millions of people. September was reported as the deadliest month of the year for civilians, with nearly 1,500 people killed or injured. Ongoing hostilities further devastated the lives of front-line communities’ residents, highlighting the urgent need for sustained support to ensure access to health care, education, protection services, repairs of damaged housing or temporary accommodation, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for those affected.
By the third quarter of 2024, humanitarian organizations provided at least one form of assistance to 7.2 million people in need across Ukraine, including emergency support after attacks. Almost 60 per cent of the people reached were women and girls, 35 per cent were older people, nearly 20 per cent were children, and 12 per cent were people with disabilities. Over nine months, humanitarians supported 1.7 million internally displaced people and 1.1 million people who returned home after displacement. Some 5.8 million people, particularly in front-line areas, received water, sanitation and hygiene services, while 3 million received food and livelihood support. Two million people received health care support. Aid organizations provided construction materials, emergency repairs and household supplies to 1.3 million people. They also offered counseling, legal aid and protection support and child protection services for a similar number of caregivers and children. Mine action efforts, through awareness and education activities, reached around 1.2 million people. Around 700,000 people received multi-purpose cash assistance, and 600,000 children and teachers were supported to continue educational activities. Assistance was provided to 100,000 people who sought refuge and temporary accommodation in collective sites.
Winter-related assistance delivery has commenced under the 2024-2025 Winter Response Plan. By the end of September, more than 26,000 people had received heating supplies, winter clothing and household items, house repairs, livestock inputs and other assistance. This support aims to assist most vulnerable people through the cold months.
Humanitarians’ efforts to reach residents of war-torn towns and villages near the front line with vital assistance included 34 inter-agency convoys to Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska and Zaporizka oblasts between January and September. Complementing regular response and aiming to deliver much-needed aid in a fluid and security-challenging context in front-line areas, six convoys delivered vital assistance to 10,000 people in September alone. This included hygiene supplies, medicines, repair materials, warm blankets and other essential supplies to prepare for winter.
The more than 600 organizations working on the ground in Ukraine, within the humanitarian coordination architecture, need resources to address the most urgent needs. The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan received less than half of the requested US$3.11 billion. Additional resources are critically needed to ensure much-needed assistance is delivered to the most vulnerable and those impacted by the war.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.