Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Kyiv on January 19 with the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, who began his duties on January 1.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Discussion on Humanitarian Aid and the Consequences of Attacks
During the talks, the parties thoroughly examined the situation resulting from the massive Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky expressed hope that support from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees would be strengthened, especially for citizens who remain under constant threat of attacks from Russia.
“The UN High Commissioner for Refugees will increase support for Ukrainians who are forced to live under constant Russian attacks.”
The President noted that Russia does not cease its aggressive actions, while Ukraine is making every effort to protect its citizens and is negotiating at the international level, particularly relying on support from the United States. However, he stated that Ukrainians need even more assistance to maintain their morale and confront the challenges of war.
UN Position and the Scale of Population Displacement
Barham Salih emphasized that he chose the winter period for his visit to Ukraine to personally demonstrate solidarity with the Ukrainian people during these difficult times. In his social media, he highlighted the importance of supporting citizens who are enduring yet another harsh winter amid the war and ongoing strikes on civilian infrastructure.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, approximately 10 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes due to the Russo-Ukrainian war. Of these, 3.7 million have become internally displaced persons, while 5.9 million are refugees abroad.
The participants of the meeting stressed the need for sustainable recovery, restoring hope, and creating new opportunities for those affected by the war.