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The UN\u2019s top official in the country \u2013 who also coordinates all the organization\u2019s humanitarian work there \u2013 emphasised the urgent need for peace, justice, and sustained international support.<\/p>\n
In October and November alone, over 2,180 civilian deaths and injuries were verified.<\/strong><\/p>\n The intense fighting has also led to a stream of evacuations, with<\/strong> nearly 40,000 people displaced from frontline areas <\/strong>in the past two months.<\/p>\n Mr. Schmale highlighted the heightened vulnerability of marginalised groups while recounting meeting two elderly evacuees in Dnipro, who shared their despair after losing everything to the war.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstandably, they expressed a pessimistic outlook for a better future<\/strong>,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n He voiced concerns for people with disabilities as he observed firsthand their plight during a visit to a transit centre.<\/p>\n \u201cI observed how incredibly challenging it is for people with disabilities to cope with the traumas and disruptions <\/strong>caused by the ongoing war,\u201d he underscored.<\/p>\n Amid the devastation, frontline humanitarian workers have continued to serve communities in crisis.<\/p>\n In Donetsk, doctors and health staff, supported by the World Health Organization, provide essential healthcare in extremely harsh conditions.<\/p>\n However, as Ukraine enters its third winter since the full-scale invasion, below-zero temperatures and systematic attacks on energy infrastructure pose significant risks.<\/p>\n Recent strikes in late November and mid-December caused widespread blackouts,<\/strong> affecting millions and leaving vulnerable populations in high-rise buildings without heating, clean water, or functioning sewage systems.<\/p>\n \u201cThe attacks have already severely worsened the dire situation for the most vulnerable populations,\u201d the coordinator warned.<\/p>\n The UN\u2019s humanitarian winter response plan aims to address emergency needs, including providing solid fuel, cash assistance, and water system repairs.<\/p>\nElderly and disabled worst hit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Resilience in crisis<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Addressing the winter crisis<\/strong><\/h2>\n