In March, Russia has been shelling Ukrainian civilians daily, despite hopes for a cessation of hostilities, and the situation for the people continues to deteriorate.
This was stated by Joyce Msuya, the UN Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, during a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.
“As we hope for a full cessation of hostilities, and, ultimately, peace, in Ukraine, the situation for civilians has continued to worsen since we last briefed the Council… Since 1 March, not a day has passed without an attack harming civilians,” Msuya said.
According to Msuya, the UN was “particularly appalled” by the strikes countrywide on March 7 that killed 21 civilians and injured many others, “making it one of the deadliest days this year.”
Msuya highlighted that the violence persisted throughout the week, claiming dozens of lives and injuring hundreds of people in various regions. Thus, on March 21, a drone strike in Zaporizhzhia killed a family of three, while on March 24, nearly 100 civilians, including over 20 children, were injured in Sumy.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 12,881 civilians in Ukraine have been killed, including 681 children, nearly 30,500 people have been injured. Over 2,300 attacks on medical facilities have been recorded. More than 13 million people require humanitarian aid, including over 10 million displaced individuals, with 3.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Msuya also warned of the “severe global funding cuts” for humanitarian operations, including for Ukraine, which further undermines the UN’s ability to provide essential aid.
She stressed that humanitarian needs must be a central part of discussions about any ceasefire or long-term agreement.
As reported by Ukrinform, the UN Security Council convened on Wednesday to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine in response to Russia’s ongoing attacks.
Source: Situation for civilians in Ukraine continues to worsen as Russia’s strikes persist – UN
