Today's top news: Ukraine, Niger

Ukraine

This morning we reached areas under Government control near the town of  Soledar in the eastern Donetsk region with a three-truck humanitarian convoy carrying supplies for more than 800 people.

This is the first inter-agency humanitarian convoy to deliver assistance to this area.

 While we reached areas located 12 km from Soledar, the supplies will also be distributed to people in communities just 5 km from the town.

The convoy delivered food, water, hygiene kits and medical supplies provided by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration and the World Food Programme. 

Our colleagues who were part of today’s convoy tell us that the towns in the area have been heavily damaged and not enough aid has reached these communities. According to local residents we spoke to, volunteer groups have been supporting civilians, but needs are outpacing the capacity to help.

Our colleagues also described a scene of desolation in the areas they passed through as empty and heavily militarized towns, where only a few people remain, mainly older people. Prices in the few markets have skyrocketed, with the price of essential items having tripled.

Aid organizations in Ukraine, coordinated by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, are trying to increase the number of inter-agency convoys to areas close to the front line where needs are most acute, and we expect more convoys in the coming days.

Niger

The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, will visit the country from 23 to 27 January to take part in the third High-Level Conference on the Lake Chad Basin.

The event in Niger’s capital Niamey will bring together governments from crisis-affected countries, international donors and partners, multilateral and international organizations, and civil society to recommit to addressing humanitarian needs, with more than 11 million people requiring assistance.

While in Niger, Ms. Msuya will meet crisis-affected people, as well as national authorities, humanitarian and development partners and donors and members of the diplomatic community.

Niger’s humanitarian crisis continues to deepen due to growing insecurity and unprecedented violence. The number of people in need has more than doubled since 2017, to 4.3 million this year.