WHO supplies essential medicines to people in non-government controlled areas in Ukraine
WHO/Ievgen Mostovyi
WHO delivered more than 5 tons of medicines and medical supplies to eastern Ukraine. Distributed emergency health kits are expected to cover the needs of 30 000 people residing in non-government controlled areas.
"There is an acute shortage of life-saving medicine and consumables across health facilities and pharmacies in the non-government controlled areas. Many people are cut off from access to medical care in non-government controlled areas," said Dr Dorit Nitzan, WHO Representativeef to Ukraine. "Our priority is the alleviation of suffering for the millions of internally displaced people, their hosting communities, those who are living under fire and the thousands who were wounded."
The total number of people in non-government controlled areas, who are in need of humanitarian assistance, including essential medicines, is up to 3.1 million. The ongoing fighting is causing additional needs in intensive and trauma care, especially for analgesics as the estimated number of people who were wounded in less than a year is over 16 000 with 6500 reported killed.
Humanitarian access to the conflict areas remains complicated, becoming even more challenging with the intensified hostilities, and leaving people without timely provision of life-saving care. WHO is working to provide timely and quality care to people affected by the ongoing crisis and to ensure equal access to health.
The shipment of medical supplies was made possible through funds provided by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), Canada, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Estonia, Israel and the Russian Federation. Since the beginning of the conflict, WHO has delivered medical supplies to more than 370 000 people.
An ongoing crisis
More than 5 million people in eastern Ukraine are estimated to be in need of health services, and more than 1.3 million are registered as internally displaced, due to the ongoing crisis. WHO, together with the national and international community, supports Ukraine and its Ministry of Health in leading a coordinated health sector response.
