Ukraine: Situation Report, 30 October 2024 [EN/UK]

Highlights

• The humanitarian situation worsened from August to September due to intensified attacks in the northeast, east and south, which increased humanitarian needs near the front line.
• Humanitarian response efforts face growing challenges, including safety risks. Six aid workers were killed or injured in July and August alone.
• Government-led evacuation mandates have expanded, with the support of some national NGOs and humanitarian partners.
• In the first nine months of 2024, the humanitarian community provided at least one form of humanitarian assistance to 7.2 million out of 8.5 million people targeted for support.
• The 2024 Humanitarian Appeal received less than half of the requested US$3.11 billion. Additional resources are critically needed to ensure much-needed assistance.

Analysis

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION OVERVIEW

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 needs for assistance and protection services.

The escalation of hostilities has significantly increased humanitarian needs near the front line. Civilians remaining in front-line communities in Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Dnipropetrovska and Zaporizka oblasts face dire living conditions, which is expected to worsen as winter approaches. WHO verified 66 attacks on health-care facilities in Ukraine, more than a third of such attacks globally. In Donestka Oblast, the relocation of 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 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, some of 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.

For more information, download the latest Ukraine Humanitarian Situation Snapshot.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE: January to September 2024

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.

For more information, download the Ukraine: Humanitarian Response and Funding Snapshot (January - September 2024)

FUNDING

In 2024, the humanitarian community appealed for US$3.11 billion to assist 8.5 million people out of the 14.6 million in need of aid across Ukraine, as outlined in the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP). This funding is crucial for maintaining a humanitarian presence and sustaining response efforts to meet the needs, particularly in the most affected areas. Some 45 per cent of the required contributions were received in the first nine months of 2024, according to the 2024 HNRP Financial Tracking Service with some 7.2 million people assisted assisted by the end of August. For more information, please download the Humanitarian Response and Funding Snapshot (January – September 2024)