The United Nations (UN) has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $1.7 billion in order to help refugees fleeing Ukraine.
Since the Russian military onslaught began, rockets have been “raining down” on Ukraine’s cities, and hundreds of people have been killed or injured, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the flash appeal.
According to the most recent UN figures, 677,000 individuals have fled Ukraine since February 24.
“UN agencies and our partners are now working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assess humanitarian needs and scale up help, notably for women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities,” he said.
Guterres, on the other hand, praised Member States for keeping their borders open to individuals escaping conflict.
“We must assist Ukrainians in assisting one other through this dreadful moment,” the UN chief said, noting that electricity and water supplies had been affected, roads had been “damaged or destroyed by bombs,” and food and medicine were in short supply in certain locations.
The goal of the demand for immediate humanitarian funding, according to UN emergency assistance head Martin Griffiths in Geneva, was to support individuals inside Ukraine, including internally displaced people and those seeking sanctuary beyond the country’s boundaries.
Because the growing violence has produced an immediate and significant spike in demand for lifesaving aid, an estimated $1.1 billion is needed for the response inside Ukraine for three months to help six million of the most vulnerable in Ukraine.
However, as residents escape for their lives, crucial supplies and services are disrupted.
Griffiths revealed at the end of the launch ceremony in Geneva that $1.5 billion had been pledged for the humanitarian appeals.
Stephane Dujarric, the UN Spokesperson, praised the “outpouring of support.”
“This is among the fastest and most generous contributions a humanitarian flash appeal has ever received,” Dujarric told media in New York.
Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner for Refugees, also requested $550 million for the refugee agency and 12 partner organisations.
He mentioned that the Ukraine crisis had displaced 520,000 people as recently as last night.
Grandi stated that this had already escalated dramatically in a few of hours.
“In the last six days, 677,000 migrants have fled Ukraine to neighboring nations.” In less than 24 hours, that’s an additional 150,000 people,” he remarked.
In the next months, the UN anticipates that 12 million people inside Ukraine would require aid and protection, while over four million refugees will require protection and help in neighboring countries.
In response to claims that third-country refugees have been mistreated at border crossings and within Ukraine while attempting to seek asylum, the UN refugee chief stated that “there should be absolutely no discrimination between Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians.”
“There are both Europeans and non-Europeans.” “Everyone is running away from the same dangers,” he added.
While the European Union is debating whether to grant Ukrainian migrants temporary protection status, the tragedy is “likely to add a new dimension to the many years of debate on asylum status, responsibility sharing, and so on,” according to Grandi.
UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, has already received more than $40 million in private donations from individuals and businesses, a “unprecedented” performance, he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that, and I believe it’s a good thing,” he added.
