The United Nations in Ukraine has announced that, following repeated Russian attacks on humanitarian aid warehouses, it is considering transferring this aid to underground locations. This decision comes after 10 of the organization's warehouses were attacked this year, resulting in millions of dollars in aid being damaged.
Status of the Warehouses and Its Impacts
Matthias Schmale, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, said at a press conference in Geneva: "One of the main warehouses of the World Health Organization, which contained medical supplies, was attacked earlier this month. Other attacks also included the destruction of hygiene kits and school supplies for children." He also noted that these attacks represent a new trend in recent months.
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Schmale added: "We are considering transferring aid to underground shelters and postponing new purchases until the last moment to prevent potential damage." He also emphasized that this situation means increased costs for taxpayers, who ultimately have to bear the costs of the goods that the UN and other humanitarian agencies import. These costs were not accounted for in the UN's $2.3 billion budget for 2026.
Equipment and Requests
The UN is also investing in protective equipment for its staff. This includes the purchase of armored vehicles and drone detection devices. Additionally, the organization is paying attention to Ukraine's increasing requests for mobile drone shelters on the streets, especially near bus stations, as civilian casualties are increasingly on the rise.
These developments in humanitarian aid in Ukraine occur in the fifth year of the war resulting from Russia's full-scale invasion and highlight the growing challenges faced by humanitarian organizations.
