{"id":146604,"date":"2024-02-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kirkonulkomaanapu.fi\/?post_type=news&p=146604"},"modified":"2024-02-23T15:17:43","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T13:17:43","slug":"a-grim-milestone-in-ukraine-average-of-42-civilian-casualties-killed-each-day-during-two-years-of-war","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.kirkonulkomaanapu.fi\/en\/latest-news\/news\/a-grim-milestone-in-ukraine-average-of-42-civilian-casualties-killed-each-day-during-two-years-of-war\/","title":{"rendered":"‘A grim milestone’ in Ukraine – average of 42 civilian casualties each day during two years of war."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An average of 42 civilian casualties each day during two years of war in Ukraine <\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

NGO members of the Humanitarian Platform in Ukraine, which includes FCA, call for the immediate protection of civilians in Ukraine and for promises made by states to address humanitarian needs to be fulfilled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

KYIV, 24 February 2024<\/strong> \u2013 Two years since the escalation of war in Ukraine, more than 10,500 civilians <\/a>have been killed, including 587 children, as constant bombardments, mines, and drone attacks have left a generation traumatised, displaced and fearful for their lives, said 51 members of the Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an average of 42 civilians killed and wounded per day, and recent months being particularly deadly, the group, made up of local and international organisations working in the country, is calling for the immediate protection of civilians, and reminds member states of promises made to tackle dire humanitarian needs of people in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explosive weapons cause life-changing injuries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

More than 87% of the people killed or injured, or 9,241 people, are casualties of explosive weapons, with many of the injuries life-changing in nature, including the loss of limbs or eyesight. The number is understood to be a vast undercount, as the UN continues to corroborate the figures. At the same time, people across Ukraine far from the frontlines also need support to rebuild their lives and recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy daughter is growing up in the basement now,\u201d says Sviatlana. “She and her 7-year-old daughter decided to stay in Kherson, an area that comes under heavy bombardment\u2026 \u201cThe longest time we had in the dark without electricity was 1.5 months, so now when there is a blackout I try to joke with my daughter, \u2018what is one day, we already had way worse\u2019. \u2026Now there is only waiting and surviving. She is just a kid and wants to play outside on the playground, but she cannot leave the basement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years of renewed fighting has destroyed lives, homes and livelihoods, leaving 14.6 million people<\/a>, including nearly 3 million children, in desperate need of humanitarian assistance across Ukraine. Nearly 80% of those in need of aid also require mental health support. The poverty level in Ukraine<\/a> increased five-fold \u2013 24 percent up from 5 percent \u2013 in 2022 alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most displaced people wish to return home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because of ongoing violence, about 4 million people are still displaced within Ukraine and more than 5.9 million<\/a> were forced to flee to neighboring countries. Even though 67% of those<\/a> internally displaced say they want to return home someday, many are unable to return to their homes as the war has shattered their communities, and livelihoods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Many displaced people struggle to integrate in their new communities, where it is difficult to find jobs and housing. Women make up 58% of the internally displaced, and are more likely than men to experience unemployment and dependency on humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected by the ongoing war. Existing inequalities, including those facing children, Roma people, LGBTQIA+ people, older people and people with disabilities, are only increasing as the long-term, as compounding effects of the crisis drive specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Life is far from normal”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Joanna Garbalinska, Director of the Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine, said: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the war continues, life is far from normal. Civilians are living day-to-day under the threat of missiles and shells, which continue to hit populated civilian areas, inflicting death and destruction to areas near and far from the frontlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine calls for all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure to cease immediately, particularly in dense urban areas, as they may amount to grave violations of international humanitarian law. Civilians must always be protected from violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today marks a grim milestone of the war in Ukraine. As the fighting heads into its third year since the escalation, humanitarian agencies in Ukraine remind member states of promises made to tackle this crisis. Today, humanitarian support is more needed than ever. Long-term funding commitments for humanitarian and recovery efforts \u2013 with Ukrainian civil society in the lead \u2013 are critical for the safety of civilians and for Ukraine\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine is an independent coordination body with 78 Ukrainian and international NGO members who are operational and delivering humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. The NGO Platform is dedicated to serving and facilitating the work of its members to efficiently and effectively address the humanitarian needs of conflict affected people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finn Church Aid\u2019s work in Ukraine<\/a> focuses on education, psychosocial support and rehabilitation of school structures. The war that started in February 2022 has damaged thousands of schools, of which hundreds are entirely destroyed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NGO Signatories:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n