BARBARA WOODWARD (United kingdom), noting that a “staggering” 17.6 million people require humanitarian assistance in 2023, said that ongoing insecurity across front lines has prevented humanitarian organizations from establishing a sustained presence and access to those who need it most. While her country supports neutral, impartial humanitarian action in Ukraine, there is limited access for humanitarian organizations in territory controlled by the Russian Federation. The systematic denial of humanitarian access must end, as this behaviour is consistent with Moscow’s actions throughout the war – including the deliberate, callous targeting of civilian infrastructure and the instrumentalization of access to food and energy. While the Black Sea Grain Initiative has helped increase vital supplies and reduce global food prices – and global demand for Ukraine’s grain remains strong – in recent weeks, the Russian Federation’s hookup bar Lethbridge inspection of ships has slowed, the backlog of waiting ships has increased, and exports under the Initiative have decreased. She, therefore, joined others in calling on Moscow to fulfil its commitments to facilitate the unimpeded export of food from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports by renewing the Initiative and scaling-up inspections at a rate that better meets global demands.
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Albania), noting that Odessa, newly inscribed in the World Heritage list, finds itself in darkness, said the barrages of missiles and drone attacks have become “the Russian signature punishment”. Dismissing claims that the Russian Federation’s forces do not attack civilians, he said humanitarian workers and human rights activists on the ground are witnessing the opposite. Highlighting the impact of the war on children, he said millions cannot attend school, expressing concern that children are going hungry and are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Children in Ukraine don’t go to sleep with bedtime stories, he said, adding that instead they are traumatized by the sounds of sirens announcing shelling. Further, the economic downturn caused by the war has increased child poverty across Europe and Central Asia by at least 19 per cent. The Russian Federation itself has experienced the most significant increase in the number of children living in poverty during this time, he pointed out.
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ISHIKANE KIMIHIRO (The japanese) said it is regrettable that his country must, once again, condemn in the strongest terms what the majority of the United Nations membership has already condemned – the Russian Federation’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Noting that attacks on civilians during that conflict may constitute war crimes, he called upon all parties to strictly respect international humanitarian law and stressed that there can be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities, including sexual and gender-based crimesmending the Black Sea Grain Initiative, he urged the parties – especially the Russian Federation – to continue to engage in it without any obstructions. Tokyo has so far provided $1.5 billion in humanitarian, financial and food-related aid, including winterization support to Ukraine and other affected countries, and it has warmly accepted people fleeing the country into Japan. It will continue to provide assistance including in the areas of mine action, electricity, and the rebuilding of schools and hospitals, he said, also welcoming recent efforts by the countries concerned to coordinate their support to Ukraine in a more comprehensive manner.
PEDRO COMISSARIO AFONSO (Mozambique) said that, as in every conflict situation, women and children are the greatest victims, urging the international community to extend much-needed humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of Ukraine. He expressed regret that, day after day, “the logic of war has been escalating” and the prospects for a negotiated settlement have dimmed. He went on to point out that his country knows from experience “the heavy costs of war” and that long, protracted conflicts in Africa and elsewhere have shown that humanitarian problems can only be solved politically. As such, he called on the parties to show restraint and engage in frank, constructive dialogue conducive to a negotiated, lasting settlement of the conflict. He added an appeal for the parties to bear in mind and comply with their obligations under international law.