UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says humanitarians are deploying extra staff across Ukraine to aid the growing number of civilians sheltering from Russian bombardment or fleeing the violence.

Meanwhile, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that the coming weeks would be critical, as farmers will need to prepare land for sowing vegetables in the middle of March. 

Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of grain for export.

Between February and May, Ukrainian farmers would normally be preparing land for planting wheat, barley, maize, and sunflowers. FAO stressed efforts should be made to protect harvests and livestock during the intense and growing conflict.

Mr Dujarric told journalists on Thursday in New York that an estimated 1.9 million Ukrainians were internally displaced, and more than 2.3 million had crossed the western border in search of safety, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Mr Dujarric said the UN and partners had reached more than 500,000 people with some form of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine so far, including life-saving food, shelter, blankets, and medical supplies.

UNHCR disclosed it delivered 85 metric tons of humanitarian assistance to reception and transit centres in Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, hosting those who have fled hostilities further east.

Mr Dujarric added that the World Food Programme (WFP) was “deeply concerned about the impact of conflict on Ukraine’s food security and the waning ability of families in embattled areas, to feed themselves.”

WFP plans to assist up to 3.1 million, focusing on supplying cities inside Ukraine with bulk food, bread, and food rations.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday more than one million children had fled Ukraine.

To protect and sustain those who remain, who can be reached, six trucks carrying nearly 70 tons of supplies had arrived, Mr Dujarric disclosed, including personal protective equipment and medical, surgical, and obstetric kits.

“Working with its partners, UNICEF teams in Ukraine will be delivering medical supplies to 22 hospitals in five different conflict-affected areas in the country to benefit 20,000 children and mothers,” stated the UN official. 

He added, “Across the border, three trucks were sent from Copenhagen – which is UNICEF’s warehouse in Europe and the largest humanitarian hub in the world – and those trucks were carrying essential supplies, such as early childhood development, recreational and hygiene kits. These supplies have now arrived in Poland.”

(NAN)