May 14, 2024
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, OCHA Director Doughten for your sobering briefing. I’d also like to thank Ms. Howarth for her well-researched presentation today.
Mr. President. It has been over a month since our last meeting on the devastating humanitarian toll of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, including the country’s energy and critical infrastructure.
Civilians continue to bear the brunt. Reports continue of Russian forces committing torture, sexual violence, and the forced transfers and deportations of civilians, including children.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission verified that at least 604 civilians were killed or injured in Ukraine in March alone, a 20 percent increase from February. At least 57 of them were children.
Millions of people have been left without electricity because of Russia’s coordinated attacks on Ukraine’s grid infrastructure, power generation, and natural gas infrastructure.
These large-scale attacks striking Ukraine’s cities and infrastructure are a clear escalation. They threaten critical services, including electricity, water treatment, and heating. Power plants in Kharkiv are operating at 20 percent capacity due to near daily attacks, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians.
Mr. President. Next week this Council will be subjected to yet another meeting where Russia will claim that Western arms are to blame for prolonging the war it started.
Russia only need look in the mirror to understand why more than 50 countries have provided critical support for Ukraine’s forces.
Last month, the United States announced $1 billion dollars in new assistance to Ukraine. This assistance includes urgently needed capabilities like air defense equipment to defend Ukraine’s citizens from Russia’s relentless attacks.
Since February 2022, the United States has also provided nearly $2.9 billion dollars in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries. This includes life-saving support for the 3.4 million people who remain internally displaced, and nearly six and a half million refugees.
Newly approved supplemental funding will help maintain the humanitarian response amidst unabated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The recent increase in Russian attacks reinforces the need for urgent humanitarian support to reach the 14.6 million people in need of assistance. We urge donors to support the humanitarian response through the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund or other partners.
Mr. President. It bears repeating that Russia continues to deny international monitors and humanitarian organizations access to Ukrainian territory it occupies, as well as to facilities in Russia holding POWs and Ukrainian civilians.
It bears repeating that Russia continues to procure ballistic missiles and other munitions from the DPRK, in violation of Security Council resolutions. Fearing the mounting body of evidence against it, the Kremlin vetoed the mandate renewal for the DPRK panel of experts.
It bears repeating that Russia continues to acquire Iranian UAVs, which are being used relentlessly against Ukraine’s cities and civilian infrastructure.
Mr. President. After over three years, the toll of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is well-documented and researched. No amount of lies and diversions can cover up the sheer body of evidence.
There will be accountability. But in the meantime, the way to end this war and the humanitarian crisis it has caused is clear. Russia must cease its aggression and immediately and fully withdraw from all territory within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.
Thank you, Mr. President.