Six million Ukrainians will need food and economic aid in the short term Russia-Ukraine War

Six million Ukrainiansboth inside Ukraine and refugees in neighboring countries, need in the short term help with food and in cash, the United Nations has pointed out. Food assistance is accelerating in locations like Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel Y Borodiankafreed at different times from the siege by Russian troops and where the destruction of infrastructure has been widespread.

By videoconference from the Ukrainian city of Lvivthe World Food Program (WFP) emergency coordinator, Jakob Kern, said that this body has mobilized 60,000 tons of food for the crisis in Ukraine, which will feed two million people for about two months. More than two-thirds of this aid has been obtained or purchased in Ukraine itself, he said, after noting that these shipments seek to complement the important humanitarian efforts that the Government is carrying out in favor of the most vulnerable.

In cities where fighting continues and which are surrounded by Russian forces, such as Kharkiv, Sumy either Severodonestkthe UN humanitarian agency has managed to supply 113 tons of food for families who are trapped. It is estimated that this amount will serve 20,000 people for ten days.

Kern specified in a press briefing that of the 1.7 million people WFP has been able to help, 1.4 million are in areas wholly or partially besieged, but acknowledged that many of the most vulnerable (some of them unable to to mobilize) are still out of reach of the humanitarian staff.

The most emblematic case is that of the port city of Mariupol, under siege almost since the beginning of the war -on February 24- and where it is estimated that there are still more than 100,000 civilians who have not been able to escape and who lack everything essential to survive. “Under these circumstances, any disease that could be easily treated with medication becomes life-threatening,” Kern said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that fifteen generators intended for hospitals are on their way to different locations in Ukraine, including several in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, partially under the control of Russian forces and where due to heavy fighting the power supply is compromised. This equipment will supply the minimum energy necessary for the operation of medical and surgical units in reference hospitals that currently lack or have limited electricity.

A representative of the WHO in Ukraine, Bhanu Bhatnagar, indicated by video call that two generators a Mariupol with the intention of taking them to their final destination once security conditions allow it. No humanitarian aid has been able to enter this city in recent weeks