The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, informed the UN Security Council on Friday that the war in Ukraine continues «with no end in sight», on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion next February.
She said that the «fighting and suffering» in Ukraine continues «with no end in sight.» «The prevailing logic is military, with very little room, if any, for dialogue at this time,» she added.
Rosemary DiCarlo has stated that the severe damage caused by the war would pale in comparison to the consequences of a protracted conflict.
«It has created a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, traumatized a generation of children and accelerated the global food and energy crises,» the UN official shared in her speech.
DiCarlo highlighted the latest attacks during the Orthodox holidays in December. At this time, the Russian Army carried out operations against Dnipro, Kherson, Kirovograd and Kiev, and attacks were also registered in Kharkov, Odessa, Lviv and Zhitomir.
In this regard, by New Year’s Eve, all administrative regions of Ukraine were under airborne alert, while attacks have also taken place during the first half of 2023 with threats to civilians in Kherson, Bakhmut and Soledar.
So far, the number of civilian casualties has amounted to 18,098 since the start of the invasion, according to figures from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), although they add that the «actual numbers are likely to be considerably higher».
She also highlighted the attacks on vital civilian infrastructure, such as energy and health facilities, which have forced the internal displacement of more than 5.91 million women and children.
«According to reports, 15 percent of the facilities are partially or completely out of service, and up to 50 percent in Donetsk, Zaporiyia, Nicolaiev and Kharkov,» she pointed out.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
