Ukraine: Partners emergency response to attacks – Update #13 as of 30 August 2024 as reported to the Health Cluster – Ukraine

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ukraine in 2024 has witnessed a marked escalation in air strikes, artillery bombardments, and ground combat, large-scale displacement, widescale devastation and significant civilian casualties, particularly within front-line communities. The intensified assaults on civilian infrastructure—targeting power plants, hospitals, and healthcare facilities—have critically disrupted essential services, including access to water, electricity, and healthcare for millions.
• On August 26, waves of attacks across Ukraine caused significant damage to essential energy infrastructure, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. Airstrikes led to casualties and destruction of civilian structures throughout the country, notably in the Donetska and Sumska regions.
• As of 30th August 2024, Health Cluster partners complemented the efforts of first responders, to reach an estimated 7,148 persons with rapid humanitarian health assistance.
• Through WHO as cluster lead agency and the WHO SSA platform, the Health Cluster team verified 256 attacks on health care in Ukraine from 29 December 2023 to 30 August 2024. These attacks resulted in 38 deaths and 236 injuries of health care workers and patients.
• Partners including UN agencies, the Global Red Cross Movement, local and international NGOs, have worked in close collaboration with the Ukraine Ministry of Health and local authorities to support the immediate delivery of emergency medical services and integrated primary health care including mental health support to people affected by the attacks.
• Repeated attacks on energy infrastructure have severely disrupted Ukraine’s energy generating capacity, prompting authorities to ration electricity by implementing nationwide scheduled blackouts. These extensive and frequent power outages have sparked concerns about the capacity of the energy system when winter months arrive. Although attacks have been reported across the country, the regions most severely affected include Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Kharkivska, Odeska, Donetska, Khersonska, Sumska, and Chernihivska.
• Since the escalation of the country-wide conflict in February 2022, the Health Cluster team through the WHO SSA has verified 1,951 attacks on health care, with 170 deaths, and 523 injuries. Attacks on health care negatively impact the delivery of health services to the entire population, disrupting humanitarian health assistance, and undermining the capacity of health workers to provide health care.
• In the first half of 2024 (Jan-July), Health Cluster partners have provided 1,430,231 people in frontline areas with critical lifesaving health care.
• While humanitarian access has reduced in Kharkivska, Donetska, and Khersonska, the Health Cluster remains vigilant in coordinating the health response, supporting the efforts of first responders and local health authorities.