‘It will take years to help people deal with the invisible consequences of war" – World Problems

“I am always inspired by the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people. Having been to Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and recently to Kramatorsk and Lyman, I have seen firsthand how the disruption of essential services such as electricity, water and heat affects people.

I have spoken to people whose loved ones were killed and whose homes were destroyed when they were attacked. I have met people in transit who have to leave their lives behind with whatever belongings they could salvage in one small bag. Every day, they show extraordinary determination – not only to get up and move on with their lives but also to help others.

The Ukrainian government and local authorities are doing an excellent job of responding quickly to these attacks so that people willing to return do so as quickly as possible. One of the governors told me that after the attack that damaged 13 buildings they, along with our colleagues, were able to close all the windows and reconnect the water, electricity, and heating so that people could return to their homes within four days.

‘Widespread trauma and mental stress’

My sense is that this prolonged war has caused widespread trauma and psychological distress. The need for mental health support is evident, too it will take years to help people cope with the invisible consequences of war.

On the other hand, I see that people start rebuilding very quickly, whether it is businesses, homes or lives. The future begins as soon as the sirens stop. I have seen people come back to rebuild houses or move into new ones with tears in their eyes. People don’t want to leave; they want to stay in their communities. And of course, everyone I spoke to wants the war to end, although many insist that this cannot come at the cost of not returning and maintaining the integrity of their territory.

And I want to repeat the Secretary-General’s message about the need for justice and peace in Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.

The United Nations in Ukraine is ready to continue providing life-saving assistance. In parallel we will continue to pursue medium and long-term solutions that help affected individuals and communities to rebuild and reduce dependence on foreign aid. I can only hope that our determination to support the Ukrainian people as long as they need us, gives hope for a dignified future.

Rebuilding the country

It goes without saying that the destruction of basic services brings great challenges to the economy and development of the country. Education and health care systems are under tremendous pressure, compounded by the growing challenges of mental health as people face each other, tense homes, and the stress of ongoing war.

The Russian Federation’s systematic and deliberate targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, causing significant and widespread civilian harm..

The UN Development Program (UNDP) estimates that more than 60 percent of power plants will be damaged by 2022. Now that winter is approaching, it is urgent to solve the growing energy crisis and work together to support the people of Ukraine at this critical time. Of course, restoring access to energy is critical to ensuring that essential services are running and that no one is left behind.

UN agencies help communities to remove debris and destroy rubble, repair homes, schools, and hospitals, build new community infrastructure, provide basic services and mental health and mental health care, and support livelihoods and employment – all of which are important issues affecting the community. The government. The question is how to increase efforts, since the needs are high.

Ten million Ukrainians were displaced. Of these, 3.5 million people are held in communities across the country. Many of them lost their livelihoods; they need homes and jobs and they need schools and nurseries to take children to hospitals.

Planning for the future Ukraine

Humanitarian organizations have developed emergency response mechanisms for changing and growing needs across the country. We have demonstrated flexibility and impact time and time again and will continue to do so.

While humanitarian aid must continue at a level sufficient to support those most vulnerable, recovery efforts must be pursued and scaled up to provide medium-term and sustainable solutions to the most affected communities and societies. This requires significant and stable financial resources in the medium and long term that are allocated in an efficient and transparent manner, and planning.

In my meetings with leaders in all regions, I have been impressed by their focus on planning for the future. They prepare long-term solutions while remaining flexible in dealing with the pressing day-to-day issues posed by the ongoing war.

At the UN, we are looking at different scenarios to deal with the uncertainty of the future. Yes, we should support more emergency planning and help ensure that the humanitarian response continues. At the same time important priorities such as de-mining as a precondition for economic recovery, housing solutions for displaced people or addressing the needs of veterans, planning needs and a high level of cooperation between UN agencies, the government of Ukraine, donors, and NGOs (International Non-Governmental Organizations under Government).

As I saw on a trip to Izium in the Kharkiv region, agriculture, which is vital to the sustainability of local communities, faces great risks from the explosive remnants of war.

Farmers plant their fields to feed their families, fearing they will trip on a mine or unexploded ordnance. It is very compelling to see the government, NGOs and the UN – in this case FAO and WFP – working together to coordinate the demining of agricultural land and help farmers regain their livelihoods through agriculture.

Another example is equipping water sources in Mykolaiv Region with solar-powered pumps that reduce dependence on the grid and are a precursor to green recovery. And I’ve seen classrooms built in subway stations to keep education moving forward and meet the challenges of online education. These are all great examples that we need to grow with all the resources available.”