UN concerned over worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, calls for more help

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – The UN on Tuesday expressed concern over the worsening civil and humanitarian situation in Ukraine and urged for more help to the war-torn country.

Due to the war in Ukraine, the portion of the population which needs social payments and humanitarian aid significantly increased as a result of the declining income of households since the start of the war in February 2022, said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Achim Steiner in an online press conference, in relation to the Ukraine Recovery Conference which will be held in London on June 21-22.

“For example, 65% of the households reported a decline in their income while those who need humanitarian aid rose to 21% from 1%,” he said.

According to Steiner, the damage to the national electric grid, a tremendous amount of rubble, and a vast number of mines have profoundly affected economic activities as well as people’s daily life.

“Ukraine is now one of the biggest minefields in the world,” he said.

The UNDP is already trying to help people willing to restart daily life but it’s not an easy task, he said, adding that more than 1.5 million houses were damaged so far in the war.

The conference in London is expected to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to help mobilize financial and political support for the country’s post-war recovery.

Türkiye will be represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The first edition of the conference was held on July 4-5, 2022 in Lugano, Switzerland.