Speaking on behalf of Secretary General António Guterres, UNDP Manager Achim Steiner said the United Nations and partners are continuing to provide “vital humanitarian assistance,” focusing on frontline communities, but “concerns are growing about reductions in humanitarian funding ”. amid the significant scale of demand.”
Infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, energy and water systems, continues to be affected as Russia continues its offensive and “support is needed more than ever”, Mr. Steiner added.
There are 24 different United Nations agencies and approximately 3,000 staff working alongside State and local authorities to meet immediate needs but also “pave the way for recovery, reconstruction and development.” ”.
Invest billions
To date, the United Nations has spent $1.1 billion on recovery and development spending through the end of 2023 and is expected to invest another $1 billion by the end of the year.
These Focus on four main areas Managed by the United Nations Resident Coordinator: support businesses and entrepreneurs, invest in human development, prioritize “inclusive recovery planning models” and continue to meet the needs Government technical support.
The UNDP chief emphasized that the only sustainable solution to the war remains a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, based on the principles of the Treaty. uncharted and international law.
Increasing education is very important
Regional director of the United Nations children’s agency UNICEFRegina De Dominicis, said in a statement to the conference that the country’s recovery depends on educating children to escape the scourge of war.
“The war in Ukraine is destroying the country’s greatest resource – its people. Without increased investment and sustained funding, children and young people will not be able to access learning and training opportunities – which are vital for the recovery of children, families and communities. theirs,” she said.
COVID-19 had their education disrupted before the Russian invasion in February 2022. About four million Ukrainian children continue to have their education disrupted, including About 600,000 students cannot go to school in person.
“The latest data available from 2022 shows that children in Ukraine are about two years behind in reading, a year behind in math and half a year behind in science. With persistent hostility since then, that gap has only widened,” UNICEF officials reported.
Action towards a ‘green recovery’
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the OECD and the United Nations Environment Program (UNECE).UNEP), announced on Wednesday the creation of one Ukraine’s Green Recovery Action PlatformARRIVE supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy in accordance with international standards monitored by the United Nations.
The developments come ahead of another summit on Ukraine, this time in Switzerland next weekend.
Some 90 countries and organizations will attend the Burgenstock conference; According to Swiss authorities, Russia is expected to join sustained peace discussions afterward.
Meanwhile on the front lines, the United Nations and partners continued to help authorities evacuate thousands of people from frontline villages in the country’s northeast this week.
In an update Tuesday, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCRsaid that most of the evacuees were “already extremely vulnerable” and could not have fled on their own sooner.
They mainly include older people and people with poor mobility or disabilities who “left home with only a few belongings,” the UN agency said.
Kharkov in sight
In the nearby city of Kharkov, more than 1 in 10 people lost their homes due to continued Russian shelling.
In an update on the city’s need for major reconstruction in northeastern Ukraine, UNECE cited reports that 150,000 out of 1.3 million people are homeless.
The Commission notes data from local authorities showing that since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, some 9,000 homes have been destroyed, along with 110 nurseries and half of the schools of the city.
Additionally, all power grid substations were shut down in Kharkiv, along with 88 health centers and 185 other public buildings, UNECE said.
