Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations announced on Thursday that it will allocate $20 million immediately in an effort to upgrade its humanitarian operations in Ukraine.
The $20 million will come from the U.N.'s Central Emergency Response Fund, and will be used to "help with health care, shelter, food, and water and sanitation to the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict," according to U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the U.N., said that the U.N. and its partners "are committed to staying and delivering, to support people in Ukraine in their time of need... regardless of who or where they are."
Guterres emphasized the importance of helping as many people in Ukraine as they can.
"With deaths rising, we are seeing images of fear, anguish and terror in every corner of Ukraine," Guterres said. "People -- everyday innocent people -- always pay the highest price."
Antonio Viitorino, director general of the U.N. International Office for Migration, said that over eight years of increasing conflict in Ukraine, more than 1.4 million people have been displaced and are in need of assistance for daily necessities.
"This escalation will only deepen the humanitarian needs and compound the suffering of millions of families," Viitorino said. Adding that the IOM will continue "to operate in a neutral and impartial manner."
David Beasley, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, said that they are prepared to help as much as they can. He acknowledged the potential concern of proper access to food for people in Ukraine.
"We appeal to all parties to ensure that affected communities have continued access to any humanitarian support they may require and that the safety of humanitarian staff on the ground is guaranteed," Beasley said.
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He then spoke about how the WFP was able to help more than a million people in Ukraine from 2014-18, and emphasized how crucial the Black Sea Basin is to the region.
"The Black Sea basin is one of the world’s most important areas for grain and agricultural production, and the food security impact of the conflict will likely be felt beyond Ukraine’s border, especially on the poorest of the poor," Beasley said in a statement.
"Interruption to the flow of grain out of the Black Sea region will increase prices and add further fuel to food inflation at a time when its affordability is a concern across the globe following the economic damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic," Beasley added.
Additionally, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, issued a statement with how the ICRC plans to help Ukraine by repairing infrastructure and providing families with food and necessities, among other ways of helping.
"The security situation permitting, our teams now in Ukraine will continue their work to repair vital infrastructure, support health facilities with medicines and equipment, and support families with food and hygiene items," Maurer said in a statement. "We will also continue our bilateral and confidential dialogue with the parties to the conflict to protect those affected by the fighting."
Already this week, the ICRC delivered 3,000 liters of water to Dokuchaevsk Hospital and 7,000 liters of water to Donetsk municipality. They also improved hygiene and nutrition at detention facilities in the area.
"The intensification and spread of the conflict risk a scale of death and destruction that are frightening to contemplate, given the immense military capacities involved," Maurer said.
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