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‘Any way you look at it, war is evil’, UN Crisis Head Ukraine – Global Affairs

United Nations News: Russia’s war in Ukraine has reached a tragic milestone. Is there hope that this war will end soon?

Amin Awad: “There is optimism that the war will end, because neither Ukraine nor Russia can afford it.. Ukraine is suffering loss of life, destruction of hospitals, schools, houses, railway stations and railways, as well as the transport sector. And the sanctions against Russia are very severe.

It is also destructive to the world. Ukraine supports about 15 to 20% of the world’s food needs. This food is stuckand we have another harvest coming up: we are having trouble disrupting food pipelines and supply chains.

We are also seeing inflation problems and defaulting countries: for example, Sri Lanka is unable to repay its loans. The world is not in a nice place.

Aid workers prepare to provide much-needed assistance from the UN and humanitarian partners in Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

UNOCHA / Ivane Bochorishvili

Aid workers prepare to provide much-needed assistance from the UN and humanitarian partners in Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

United Nations News: Civilians are paying the highest price for this invasion. Many people perished, while millions sought refuge in neighboring countries. How is the situation for those who are still in the country?

Amin Awad: There is a feeling of despair. There are nearly eight million internally displaced people and another six million abroad. Around 15 million have not left their homes, but they are affected by the loss of livelihood, and lose access to services such as education, healthcare, and other amenities. Millions of children do not go to school.

Stressful social security system. Government services are extended. The same goes for the humanitarian community. It was a really bad situation.

United Nations News: The United Nations and the Red Cross (ICRC) have facilitated the evacuation of desperate civilians trapped in the Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Are there any similar operations that the UN is engaged in right now, to evacuate people trapped in hostile areas?

Amin Awad: We haven’t received an evacuation request, such as the one in Mariupol, but we have been making requests to reach areas where people are in need of food, medical supplies and other forms of support.

Civilians from Mariupol flee the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol during an evacuation led by the United Nations.

© UNOCHA / Kateryna Klochko

Civilians from Mariupol flee the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol during an evacuation led by the United Nations.

Furthermore, I think now we have to really focus on winter: we’re in June, and winter is just around the corner and, in this part of the world, temperatures are below zero, with breaking destroy many electric power plants and lose alternative energy supplies, We need to come up with a strategy quickly to support millions of people this winter.

United Nations News: You’ve been in Ukraine for a while, and you’ve seen the ugly side of this war. Can you tell us a human story that moved you deeply?

Amin Awad: There is a lot of suffering. Driving through some of these devastated areas, I saw children who had escaped the destruction of their homes or apartment buildings, and found themselves alone on the street, with no parents, no guardians and no where to go.

There is a lot of suffering. Driving through some of these devastated areas, I saw children who had escaped the destruction of their homes or apartment buildings, and found themselves alone on the street, with no parents, no guardians and no where to go.

I think this is one of the ugly faces of war that we must stop.

United Nations News: Regarding the safety of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, is the United Nations working with the parties to address any possible threats?

Amin Awad: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been here many times. They went to all the factories. Zaporizhzhya is under Russian control and I believe there is a negotiation underway to provide access to this agency.

Nuclear plants can pose a danger, not only to Ukraine, but to the entire continent. Therefore, they need maximum attentionand security protocols and procedures must be followed.

United Nations News: There have been multiple attacks on schools across Ukraine. You have called on the warring parties to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure and you have emphasized that these obligations under international humanitarian law are non-negotiable. Is there any sign that Russia is listening to these calls?

Amin Awad: We continue to urge Russia to really save on what we call civilian infrastructurethese are water, electricity, schools and hospitals.

We will continue to carry out these appeals, as the number of people fleeing from these attacks is enormous and unacceptable.

The principal of a school in Chernihiv, Ukraine, surveys damage caused in an air strike.

© UNICEF / Photo of Ashley Gilbertson VII

The principal of a school in Chernihiv, Ukraine, surveys damage caused in an air strike.

United Nations News: Do you have any final messages?

Amin Awad: My final message is really for this war to stop. The world will gain a lot.

About 69 countries could be affected by food shortages, inflation, supply chain collapses, the impact of unemployment and many other factors.

The world is facing many challenges. One of them is climate change, which is also affecting agriculture and other sources of livelihood.

So any way you look at it – strategically, politically or economically – war is evil.

There is no gain in any war. Everyone loses. ”

The content of this interview has been edited for clarity and length. Listen to the full audio interview below:

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