UN: 10 Million People in Ukraine Face Winter Without Heating

Ukraine's 40% Population Faces Winter Amid War... Humanitarian Crisis

Darkness Engulfs Kyiv, Ukraine Due to Power Outage
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] The United Nations (UN) has reported that over 40% of Ukraine's population is facing a humanitarian crisis as they endure winter amid the ongoing war, and it has pledged to fully commit to emergency aid efforts.

On the 13th (local time), Jakko Silenius, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) office in Ukraine, stated in a press release, "More than 18 million people, accounting for over 43% of Ukraine's total population, require assistance due to the humanitarian crisis."

He explained, "Among them, over 10 million are spending the winter without access to water, heating, or electricity," adding, "About half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been directly damaged by shelling and other attacks."

Silenius conveyed that all UN agencies are focusing their efforts to jointly respond to the humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Ukraine.

First, UNDP is conducting projects to distribute blankets, cooking stoves, and heating equipment in Ukraine. They are also establishing shelters across Ukraine where citizens can warm themselves and access electricity.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is collaborating with local activists to carry out winterization projects. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting medical facilities that have become difficult to operate due to missile strikes. Additionally, WHO is promoting the distribution of medicines to address various winter illnesses, including respiratory diseases.

Furthermore, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is exploring ways to operate Ukraine's power grid more flexibly. To mitigate the impact of power outages caused by damage to energy infrastructure, they are analyzing Ukraine's electricity demand and seeking countermeasures.