Ukraine: Humanitarian Situation Snapshot (August - September 2024) [EN/UK]

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine worsened in August and September due to intensified attacks in the northeast, east and south. According to the Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (HRMMU) in September, over 1,400 deaths and injuries were verified, the highest number since the start of the full-scale invasion. Homes, hospitals and schools have been damaged, in addition to the disruption of other essential services, including water and electricity. Humanitarian organizations had to adapt to the rapidly changing environment to meet the growing need for assistance and protection services.

The escalation of hostilities has significantly increased humanitarian needs near the front line. Civilians remaining in the front-line communities in Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska and Zaporizka oblasts face dire living conditions, which are expected to worsen as winter approaches. WHO verified 66 attacks on heal-thcare facilities in Ukraine, more than a third of such attacks globally. In Donestka Oblast, relocating health facilities to other parts of the country has posed challenges to access health care in the region. Students required to use online learning struggle to connect due to frequent and unpredictable electricity cuts and limited safe learning spaces. Under constant shelling and with limited access to critical services, limited shops, pharmacies and banks, people remaining close to the front line need shelter repairs, family items, hygiene products, clean water and food. Kharkiv and Kherson cities have been facing these conditions for some time, while Zaporizhzhia has more recently been under frequent attacks, affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Damage to energy infrastructure is expected to worsen the challenges civilians will face in the coming winter, which is forecasted to be the toughest for Ukrainians since February 2022. The impact of the attacks on the power supply may disrupt essential services such as water, gas and heating in Ukraine, particularly in front-line communities. Under these circumstances, humanitarians adapted their response to meet the needs of people ahead of below-zero temperatures.

Government-led evacuation mandates have expanded and with the support of some national NGOs and humanitarian partners, the most vulnerable people have relocated to safer areas. In September, the number of people leaving front-line communities in Donetska Oblast increased to over 1,000 people daily. Donetska Oblast authorities evacuated families with children from over 40 towns, which reduced Pokrovsk’s population from 70,000 to 16,000 due to escalating hostilities. In Sumska Oblast, increased strikes and attacks led to mandatory evacuation orders in more than 30 towns and villages. Evacuations also continued in Kharkivska and Khersonska oblasts.