Economic and Social Council

Humanitarian Affairs Segment

Intervention by Permanent Representative of Ukraine

Ambassador Yurii Klymenko

June 26, 2019

Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished delegates,

Speaking about the issues of utmost concern to us, I think you’ll agree with me, that any country may face the risk of humanitarian emergency.

Conflict remains the main driver of humanitarian needs in 2019. A lot of humanitarian crises have become protracted because of limited progress in addressing their root causes. The majority of humanitarian needs occurs in these crises.

Moreover, in the year of the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the universally recognized norms, in particular related to treatment of prisoners of war, are under attack. For instance, the Russian Federation continues to disregard international humanitarian law by denying Ukrainian sailors it has unlawfully detained in November 2018 a status and privileges in compliance with the Third Geneva Convention. The international law must be observed and the recent order of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea requiring to “immediately release the 24 detained Ukrainian sailors and allow them to return to Ukraine” is to be implemented in full.

Ukraine attaches great importance to the IHL adherence. The Interagency Commission on the Application and Implementation of IHL in Ukraine has been established and is actively functioning.

Mr. Chairman,

The resolution we are going to adopt at this Segment is quite instrumental for our further efforts. My country, proceeding from its own experience, places special emphasis on the topic of strengthening of coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance with a significant role played by the recipient states’ authorities.

Five years of armed conflict caused by the ongoing external aggression have resulted in a protracted and complex humanitarian crisis in south-east of Ukraine. According to the UN, around 4.4 million Ukrainians have been affected. Among them 3.4 million are estimated to be in urgent need of humanitarian and protection assistance during this year. About 1.4 million Ukrainians are registered as IDPs.

Civilians continue to face serious risks to their safety, wellbeing and basic rights due to the above-mentioned ongoing hostilities. The affected area, according to the UN, has already become one of the most mine-contaminated stretchofland in the world.

Continuation of the Russian aggression can also lead to an ecological and epidemiological catastrophe. Cessation of hostilities remains essential in enabling effective humanitarian response, protecting civilians and humanitarian personnel.

Efforts aimed at supporting persons in need are being significantly complicated by the constant blocking by the illegal armed groups controlled by Russia of an access to the occupied territories for the humanitarian aid from the Ukrainian Government and the reputable international organizations. The humanitarian and human rights situation on these territories has been further deteriorating.

The Ukrainian Government does its best to tackle the humanitarian challenges.Still, because of their unprecedented nature and scope, we cannot address them alone. We highly appreciate what has been already done by our international partners in assisting those in need. Yet, Ukraine counts on further support in meeting timely and adequately the specific needs of the affected population, including by an appropriate funding of the UN-led Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine.

Mr. Chairman,

Without joint efforts it is impossible to effectively confront the humanitarian challenges. In this line, the Government of Ukraine, on its part, last year provided financial assistance to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to overcome the effects of the earthquake. The internal procedures for granting financial assistance to the Government of the Republic of Yemen are now being completed.

In conclusion, let me express hope that the international cooperation in humanitarian activities, being one of the main instruments to ease lives of millions of citizens on Earth, will further deepen. Its effective combination with long-term political and development solutions will make our world a safer and more secure place to live in.

I thank you.

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