Today's top news: Ukraine, Sudan

Ukraine

Yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown, said that the UN has been engaging with the Governments of Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the effective delivery of aid to all people affected by the devastating destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. 

She said that the Government of the Russian Federation has so far declined our request to access the areas under its temporary military control. The UN will continue to engage to seek the necessary access. 

Ms. Brown stresses that aid cannot be denied to people who need it. The UN will continue to do all it can to reach all people - including those impacted by the dam destruction - who need aid, no matter where they are.

Humanitarian partners on the ground continue operations where they have access.  

Sudan

As the conflict in Sudan fuels a humanitarian catastrophe in the country and a refugee crisis beyond its borders, donors at a United Nations-backed event today announced about US$1.5 billion to fund life-saving relief efforts in Sudan and the region and called on parties in Sudan to immediately end the fighting. We thank all donors for their generosity. 

Today’s ministerial-level pledging event in Geneva was organized by the United Nations and the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the European Union.

Speaking at the event, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, announced an additional allocation of $22 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to keep urgent humanitarian operations going.

Mr. Griffiths warned that needs and operating costs are soaring – and our humanitarian appeals for the response inside Sudan and neighbouring countries are underfunded. As a result, we urgently need more resources to fund life-saving assistance.