GENEVA
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, expressed concern Tuesday about the loss of energy generation capacity in Ukraine due to Russian attacks ahead of winter.
“Russia’s destruction of energy infrastructure has led to an overall loss of 65% of energy generation capacity in recent months, and the attacks continue, disrupting electricity, heating, and water supplies,” Kelly Clements, the UN deputy high commissioner for refugees, said in at a UN news conference in Geneva.
Clements said 450 community-based organizations across Ukraine are “heavily involved” in winter preparations and response to the winter.
“Our trip last week coincided with the first snowfall,” she said. “It was already getting quite cold, and this has been something that, of course, we’re quite concerned about, with 65% of the energy infrastructure impacted and huge concerns that there will be another catastrophic hit on energy as Ukraine faces the coldest months.”
Clements noted that the UNHCR is working to help those in need by providing alternative heating sources, insulation and other supplies.
“We are aiming to reach 625,000 of the most vulnerable Ukrainians … in a fragile situation, (the agency is) looking at ways that they can have alternatives to energy, other ways to insulate homes, and so on,” she said.
Her remarks came as Russia’s war in Ukraine is set to mark 1,000 days next week.
