United News of Bangladesh

Humanitarian needs continue to rise in war-torn Ukraine where an estimated 7.7 million people are now internally displaced, UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths said Thursday. He was addressing the International Donor Conference for Ukraine in Warsaw co-hosted by Poland and Sweden, in cooperation with the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. The conference raised a reported $6.5 billion. According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, more than 5.7 million people have now fled across Ukraine's borders seeking shelter, in the two and a half months since the Russian invasion on February 24. In a tweet, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said in his briefing at the conference, that he had stressed priorities for the millions of refugees and internally displaced, the importance of cash programmes, shelter and accommodation, and protection of the vulnerable. World Food Programme (WFP) chief David Beasley, also addressed the conference, following the announcement by the UN emergency food relief agency that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, to scale up cash transfers to half a million people across Ukraine. The agreement will support people displaced by the war and expand the assistance already provided to 170,000 people through cash assistance.  Also Read: Defenders inside Ukrainian steel mill refuse to surrender Since the beginning of April, the WFP has transferred nearly $11 million in local currency, to more than 170,000 people In Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv and other cities. Those eligible are receiving between $75 and $225 per month, depending on family size. Cash allows people to buy the items and services that they consider most important. It is extremely useful to families with a variety of needs in a volatile environment, when they may be moving locations. Every dollar spent by a family in Ukraine is directly injected into the local economy, said the WFP. Meanwhile, UN independent human rights experts together with the coordinator of the international non-governmental group known as the Global Protection Cluster issued a statement Thursday, highlighting the "appalling" humanitarian situation facing millions in Ukraine. "Multiple forms of gender-based violence are being reported such as sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. Women and girls on the move – at border crossing points or transit and collective centres and in bomb shelters – experience particularly high insecurity and risk of violence, including trafficking in persons," they said. "Numerous families have been separated during displacement, and unaccompanied and separated children are particularly vulnerable to the risks of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation." They also expressed deep concern over the plight of older people and those with disabilities in the war zone. "Many of them are still in conflict zones because of mobility limitations or reliance on others for care and face challenges in accessing bomb shelters or safe areas. We are especially concerned about those persons with disabilities, including children, living in institutions for persons with disabilities who face barriers to access humanitarian assistance and evacuation on an equal basis with others."