UKRAINE: 42 civilian casualties every day in two years of war

Toronto, February 24, 2024 – Two years since the escalation of war in Ukraine, more than 10,500 civilians have been killed, including 587 children, and nearly 20,000 injured [1], 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.

With an average of 42 civilians killed and wounded per day since the conflict escalated [2], 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.

More than 87% of the people killed, or 9,241 people, are casualties of explosive weapons [1], 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.

 “My daughter is growing up in the basement now,” says Sviatlana. She and her 7-year-old daughter decided to stay in Kherson, an area that comes under heavy bombardment… “The 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, ‘what is one day, we already had way worse’. …Now 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.”

Two years of renewed fighting has destroyed lives, homes and livelihoods, leaving 14.6 million people, including nearly 3 million children, in desperate need of humanitarian assistance across Ukraine [3]. Nearly 80% of those in need of aid also require mental health support.  The poverty level in Ukraine increased five-fold – 24 percent up from 5 percent – in 2022 alone [4].

Because of ongoing violence, about 4 million people are still displaced within Ukraine and more than 5.9 million were forced to flee to neighboring countries [5]. Even though 67% of those internally displaced say they want to return home someday [6], many are unable to return to their homes as the war has shattered their communities, and livelihoods. 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.

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.

Joanna Garbalinska, Director of the Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine, said:

“As 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. 

“The 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. 

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 – with Ukrainian civil society in the lead – are critical for the safety of civilians and for Ukraine’s future.”

NGO Signatories

“БО “”МБФ “”Руки друзів””// Friends’ Hands

ACTED

Action Against Hunger (ACF)

ActionAid

ГО “АЛЬЯНС.ГЛОБАЛ” // ALLIANCE.GLOBAL, Public Organization

arche noVa

CARE

Caritas Ukraine

Caritas Zaporizhzhia

Corus International

CUAMM – Doctors with Africa

Danish Refugee Council

Estonian Refugee Council

ГРОМАДСЬКА ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ “ЕДКЕМП УКРАЇНА” // Public Organization “EDCAMP UKRAINE”

FHI 360

Fida International Ukraine

Finn Church Aid

Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe

Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation

Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International (HI)

humedica e.V.

International Rescue Committee

INTERSOS

La Chaîne de L’espoir

Lutheran World Federation

MAG (Mines Advisory Group)

Medair

Médecins du Monde International Network

Medical Teams International

Mercy Corps

Nonviolent Peaceforce

Norwegian Refugee Council

Oxfam

People in Need

Plan International

Premiere Urgence Internationale

Right to Protection

Save the Children

Solidarités international

Stichting Vluchteling (The Netherlands Refugee Foundation)

Terre des Hommes

Паросток// Parostok

UK-Med Ukraine

Ukrainian Red Cross Society

Українська фундація громадського здоров‘я // Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health

Welthungerhilfe

World Vision International

ZDOROVI

ГО “Дівчата”// NGO “Girls”

ГО «ГІ Допоможемо Разом» //NGO “Will Help Together”

Єдність чеснот//NGO “Unity of Virtue”

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Notes for editors:

The Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine (hereinafter the NGO Platform) 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.

Key facts:

• [1] As of 22 February 2024 (the latest data available), 30,457 civilians were killed and wounded, including 10,582 civilians killed in the conflict, including 587 children. A total of 9,241 people have been killed by explosive weapons with wide area effects, and mines and explosive remnants of war. Source: UN OCHA
• [2] The 42 people killed or injured per day on average comes from the cumulative casualty figure (30,457) divided by the latest data source date (15 February 2024) and the date of the escalation of the conflict (24 February 2024)
• [3] 14.6 million people, including more than 3 million children, are in need in Ukraine this year. 80% of those in need of aid also require mental health support.  Approximately 4 million people are displaced within Ukraine. Women make up 58% of the internally displaced, and are more likely than men to experience unemployment and dependency on humanitarian aid. Source: Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024
• [4] Poverty level in Ukraine increased from 5.5% to 24% in 2022 alone. Source: World Bank
• [5] 5.9 million Ukrainian people are refugees. Source: UNHCR
• [6] 67% of internally displaced people say they want to return home one day. Source: UNHCR