The widespread use of drones and gliding bombs in the Ukraine war means that a large swath of the country is directly exposed to Russian attacks, further complicating the work of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is preparing for the famously harsh Ukrainian winter.
UN News spoke to Andrea de Domenico, OCHA Country Head in Ukraine, about the challenges he and his colleagues face and how they approach working under fire.
Andrea de Domenico: Our resources are dwindling, so we have to make difficult decisions. We have identified some specific priorities, such as frontline response, evacuation support and humanitarian aid for displaced people.
This year we are primarily focusing on those living on the frontline, the majority of whom are vulnerable older people with limited mobility who need support.
On top of that, we have to respond to attacks on energy infrastructure, which is a big challenge. In the last week, for example, 60 percent of gas production was damaged. If we take away their water and electricity, surviving the winter will be very, very difficult.
With support from the center in Chișinău, Moldova, an elderly Ukrainian is learning new ways to cope with the challenges of displacement.
UN News: How much do you need to help those in need and how much have you received?
Specifically for winter we have requested $277 million and approximately 50 percent of that amount has been mobilized, so there is still a long way to go to reach the overall goal.
Unfortunately, if we do not reach that number it will mean that people will not be able to spend the winter in their homes and will have to be evacuated.
UN News: Last week a UN convoy was bombed. How does your team cope with the psychological pressure of working in such conditions?
The vast majority of frontline humanitarian assistance is provided by local authorities and local partners, and we must recognize the fantastic work they do day in and day out.
They have been exposed to these types of attacks time and time again. This year alone we have recorded more than 100 incidents.
There have been attacks in which we have suffered collateral damage, but this is the first direct attack on a United Nations humanitarian convoy. Of course, it’s shocking.
After it happened, I told the team that this is one of the risks we have to face. Our UN security colleagues worked excellently with us and were very effective in protecting the lives of those who participated in that mission.
It takes a lot of determination, courage and motivation to keep doing it, but that’s what it is, being involved in humanitarian operations in a war zone.