Without humanitarian aid, food and water: 8.5 million Ukrainians could face disaster

The situation is further complicated by the escalation of hostilities, which hinder access or limit delivery times.

The UN humanitarian appeal is under serious threat, as only 10% of the requested funds have been allocated to meet Ukraine’s needs in 2024.

This lack of funding jeopardizes the delivery of vital assistance to those in need in areas close to the frontline.

Denise Brown, the UN Resident Representative in Ukraine, warned that more than 8 million Ukrainians living in hard-to-reach areas near the war zones could be left without basic humanitarian supplies, including water and food.

“If we don’t get that money, I don’t know where it’s going to come from,” Brown said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Brown said that humanitarian aid in Ukraine, especially in areas near the front line, is facing financial difficulties. In such areas, where there is not even electricity and water, basic needs are supplied. In 2023, 11 million people were reached.

This includes water, hygiene kits with toothpaste and toilet paper, and other items.

“A lot of times, it’s things like adult diapers because the elderly in those communities don’t have the ability to move around,” Brown says.

The situation is further complicated by the escalation of hostilities, which hinder access or limit delivery times, for example, in frontline areas like Hodyny Yar in Donetsk region.