Ukraine: UN relief chief calls for end to carnage

Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths’ remarks to the UN Security Council on Ukraine

Madam President,

When I last spoke to the Council about the situation in Ukraine in March, I highlighted the humanitarian impact of the full-scale war not only on the people of Ukraine, but on the wider world already struggling with myriad shocks. In that context, I emphasized the overwhelming need for a political solution to the war on Ukraine, and peace.

I note with regret, therefore, that hostilities, including missile strikes, currently appear to be escalating on both sides of the front line. Air raid sirens continue to ring out in cities and towns across Ukraine. Civilians continue to seek protection in bunkers, some for days on end. And as Ukraine emerges from a hard winter, civilian casualties are rising to their highest levels in months.

OHCHR has now verified a staggering 23,600 civilian casualties since 24 February 2022; we all know the actual toll is likely to be much higher.

The humanitarian impacts are extensive. Many communities along the north-eastern border with the Russian Federation and near the front line are encircled, cut off from water, food and medical care by heavy ground fighting and blocked roads.

Only last week in Kherson, residential buildings, a school, an outpatient hospital, and an elderly care facility were reportedly damaged, leaving scores of civilians needing shelter and healthcare. And missile strikes in Odesa hit a humanitarian storage warehouse.

A Ukrainian Red Cross mobile hospital in Mykolaiv was also hit. Humanitarian supplies and vital medical equipment were destroyed.

Fortunately, no humanitarian staff or volunteers were injured. But the threat to humanitarians and civilians represented by the latest wave of attacks is persistent.

 I am compelled, once again, to recall here to this Council, that under international humanitarian law parties must take constant care to protect all civilians and civilian objects, including homes, schools, hospitals, and other essential infrastructure, as well as humanitarian facilities and assets.

Madam President,

As you can apprehend, the humanitarian operating environment remains complex and dangerous.

Nonetheless, thanks to the sheer bravery of humanitarian workers, particularly local workers, the UN and its partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance to front line areas and elsewhere across Ukraine.

Millions of people received humanitarian assistance in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023 through a multi-sectoral response. Around 43 inter[1]agency convoys have delivered supplies to 278,000 people in front-line areas so far this year, with local partners conducting last-mile delivery and distribution. But there are still limitations on our ability to deliver aid to all those in need. More is needed to take our efforts to scale.

The biggest challenge remains the impediments to reaching all areas in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia currently under the military control of the Russian Federation. The humanitarian notification system – together with direct engagement with key interlocutors in Moscow and Kyiv – was set up to maximize the opportunity for safe and unimpeded passage of inter-agency convoys to these areas.

However, despite 14 months of notifying the parties of our intentions through this system, we have not been able to deliver assistance to communities along the front line in areas under the military control of the Russian Federation.

Access options to these areas, including response modalities, continue to be explored through engagement with both parties. It is imperative that we explore all options to reach civilians, wherever they are. As I have said before, under international humanitarian law, all parties must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and must ensure that personnel have the freedom of movement required for their work. I urge the parties to strengthen facilitation efforts so we can reach all civilians in need.

Madam President,

 Food exported under the Black Sea Initiative – and food and fertilizer exports from the Russian Federation – continue to make a crucial contribution to global food security.

More than 30 million metric tons of cargo have now been safely exported from Ukrainian ports under the Initiative, of which over 55 per cent to developing countries and close to 6 per cent has gone directly to Least Developed Countries. This includes just under 600,000 metric tons of wheat transported by the World Food Programme, in direct support of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen.

Latest FAO analysis indicates that global cereal prices have fallen by close to 20 per cent over the past 12 months. Last month, international wheat prices reached their lowest level since July 2021, driven in part by the continued movement of Ukrainian grain, and by large quantities available for export in the Russian Federation and other locations. This represents undeniable progress, but much more remains to be done.

 Predictable supplies for humanitarian food assistance operations continue to be required. The Initiative refers to the export of ammonia, but this has not yet been possible.

Over the past month, we have also unfortunately seen a significant reduction in volumes of exports moving out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, due to increasingly challenging dynamics within the Joint Coordination Centre and a related slowdown in operations.

 In recent weeks, we have engaged in intensive discussions with the parties to the Black Sea Initiative, to secure agreement on its extension and the improvements needed for it to operate effectively and predictably.

This will continue over the coming days. In parallel, Rebeca Grynspan and her team have continued to deliver a wide range of support with concrete results under the Memorandum of Understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports. For the reasons I have set out, continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is critical, as is recommitment by the parties to its smooth and efficient operation.

We call on all parties to meet their responsibilities in this regard. The world is watching.

I once again reiterate my thanks to the Government of Türkiye for the tireless support it continues to provide, for the day-to-day implementation of the Initiative and as part of ongoing efforts around its extension.

Madam President It is clear that the people of Ukraine and millions around the world can ill afford a continuation of this war.

More than ever, they need an end to hostilities and a political solution to end the conflict. I call on this Council and all Member States to support all efforts to bring an end to the carnage and destruction.

In the meantime, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners remain committed to safeguarding the life and dignity of persons affected by the war and to the pursuit of peace – today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes.

Thank you, Madam President