Over 11,700 civilians killed in Ukraine since start of Russian war: UN official

Published September 11,2024

Subscribe

The UN mentioned Tuesday that greater than 11,700 civilians have been killed because the begin of Russia’s battle in Ukraine in February 2022, urging leaders getting ready for the 79th General Assembly session to grab all alternatives to finish the battle.

“Regrettably, two and a half years since the escalation of this war, the situation only continues to worsen. The death toll is mounting. Human suffering continues at intolerable levels,” Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya mentioned at a UN Security Council session.

The session, which was held on the request of France and Ecuador, addressed Russia’s assaults on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Msuya emphasised that 10 million individuals have been forcibly displaced in Ukraine and large-scale assaults have been ongoing throughout the nation since Aug. 26.

“We are deeply concerned by the recent expansion of fighting to new areas on both sides of the Ukraine-Russia border,” she mentioned.

Noting that army operations in Russia’s Kursk area have displaced 130,000 individuals, Msuya mentioned that civilians and civilian infrastructure have additionally been focused on this area.

“I must remind all parties of the obligation to take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects as international humanitarian law demands,” she mentioned.

Emphasizing that the rise in army actions is hindering humanitarian operations and endangering support employees, she expressed gratitude for an “almost $1.4 billion” donation for the humanitarian response in Ukraine.

“However, three-quarters of the way through the year, the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is still less than half funded. To sustain operations in an increasingly complex and dangerous environment, we urgently need donors to increase and accelerate flexible funding for the response,” she mentioned, including that 14.6 million individuals throughout Ukraine want help.

Msuya additional referred to as on world leaders getting ready for the 79th UN General Assembly session “to seize every opportunity to secure the decisions that will spare civilians and finally bring this war to an end.”