United Nations Delivers 634 Metric Tons Of Humanitarian Aid To Luhansk

By end of November 2015, the cumulative number of people officially registered as internally displaced by the MoSP reached 1.6 million, including over 200,000 children. Various reports indicate that while some of the registered IDPs, up to one million people, have been more permanently displaced for a sizeable amount of time in areas under the control of the Ukrainian authorities, others move frequently across the ‘contact line’. In the meantime, over 2.7 million people are living in non-government-controlled areas with limited freedom of movement of people and goods, which impacts family unity and limits access to social assistance, medication and humanitarian assistance. An estimated 800,000 people live in the difficult and dangerous conditions on both sides of the contact line, where hostilities are increasing. This inter-agency convoy is only one of the many initiatives the UN and its humanitarian partners are undertaking to provide relief aid to all of those in need.



“The conflict in eastern Ukraine has further threatened the health of children and adults living with HIV,” said Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine. “In the joint UN convoy to Luhansk today, UNICEF managed to deliver the second batch of antiretroviral treatment for more than 8,000 adults and children living with HIV. In addition, we delivered HIV testing for over 31,000 pregnant women and their children living in non-government-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine”.



“Our priority is alleviation the suffering of population in eastern Ukraine. Many people in non-government controlled areas remain cut off from access to medical care and life-saving medicines,” said Dorit Nitzan, WHO Representative in Ukraine. “Today WHO supplied essential medicines to cover needs for over 30,000 people for 3 months. Additionally, trauma kits and laboratory tests were delivered to ensure quality care to those affected by the ongoing crisis.”



“People have been deprived of humanitarian assistance for several months. The food delivered is crucial for the most vulnerable, including those who have lost their incomes, those who are disabled or sick,” said Giancarlo Stopponi, WFP Representative in Ukraine. “The UN convoy that arrived in Luhansk today includes 557 metric tons of WFP food assistance that will cover the needs of 13,000 people living in non-government-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine for three months this winter.”



Later this week UNHCR will send another 500 metric tons of shelter materials and non-food items to Luhansk. It will be the fifth convoy organized by the UN Refugee Agency since November 2015, with 25 trucks carrying timber, plywood, shelter materials, as well as blankets, coils, winter clothing and hygiene kits for more than 3,000 people. In total, UNHCR supplied near 1,500 metric tons of vital winter aid and construction materials to affected communities, since the UN resumed its operation in areas in Luhansk beyond government control. “With winter here, there is a need for urgent action to get relief items to the people trapped in conflict zone, in particular near the contact line’ stated Vanno Noupech, UNHCR Deputy Representative in Ukraine.



“As winter sets in, many vulnerable people will not have enough food to eat, warm clothes to wear or resources to repair and heat their homes. We call on both government and de-facto authorities in the non-government controlled areas to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations so together we can assist people affected by the crisis”, - stated Neal Walker, Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Resident Coordinator.



United Nations in Ukraine works together with the people and the Government of Ukraine to protect the most vulnerable, and build peace for sustainable transformation in Ukraine. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Ukraine is composed of representatives of 16 UN funds and programmes, specialized agencies and other UN entities accredited to Ukraine. www.un.org.ua, @un_ukraine.



UNHCR - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also known as the UN refugee agency, was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCR leads and co-ordinates international action to protect refugees, safeguard their rights and work for their well-being.In more than six decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives. For more information about UNHCR in Ukraine visit http://www.unhcr.org.ua. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.



UNICEF - United Nations Children Fund promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF in Ukraine and its work visit:www.unicef.org/ukraine. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.



WHO - WHO’s primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations’ system. WHO main areas of work include health systems, promoting health through the life-course, noncommunicable diseases, communicable diseases, corporate services, preparedness, surveillance and response. For more information about WHO in Ukraine follow us on Twitter and Facebook.



WFP - The World Food Programme is the world`s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries. Follow us on @WFP_ukraine and @WFP_media

Contacts for additional information:

UN in Ukraine Victoria Andrievska, UN Communication Officer, +380504138404,

UNHCR Nina Sorokopud, UNHCR Kyiv, + 380503101767, sorokopu@unhcr.org

UNICEF Veronika Vashchenko, UNICEF Kyiv, +38 044 254 2439, vvashchenko@unicef.org

WHO Izhyk Olha, WHO Kyiv, +38 063 4277696, izhyko@who.int

WFP Deborah Nguyen, WFP Communications Officer, deborah.nguyen@wfp.org, Tel. +380 (98) 064 1073