Today's top news: Ukraine

Ukraine

The Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown today visited areas near the front line in the Donetsk region. She led an inter-agency convoy that brought emergency items to small communities heavily impacted by the fighting there.

She and our colleagues went to Siversk, which is 20 km north of Soledar. This entire area has endured heavy hostilities in recent weeks, as well as throughout the 11 months of the war. Siversk itself was shelled every day over the past three days, and our team heard explosions while delivering assistance there today.

Today’s three-truck convoy brought food, hygiene items, winter clothing, solar lamps, emergency shelter kits and medicine for some 1,700 people who remain in Siversk and neighbouring communities. It is the first time we managed to reach this area, although we have previously sent supplies to nearby locations - Lyman and Yampel.

Ms. Brown stressed that the situation in these towns and villages is dire. Most of the 13,500 people who lived there before the war have fled and the people who have stayed face enormous challenges.

Ms. Brown and our humanitarian colleagues saw small villages which had been destroyed, with houses and all infrastructure having been destroyed.

In Siversk, there is no electricity and the water supply is extremely limited. In the town of Siversk, the people depend on the water distributed by local authorities and volunteers.

Schools and the health centre have been damaged. The only doctor left in the town is doing what she can to support the community from an improvised clinic.

As we mentioned last week, our work to support people close to the front line will continue in the days and weeks ahead.