What is happening in Ukraine?‍

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• Since the start of the conflict, one third of Ukrainians have been forced from their homes, constituting the largest human displacement crisis the world currently faces.
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• More than 7 million people are still displaced within Ukraine
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• 16 million people are estimated to be in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection.
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• As of the 6th of June, the UN has recorded 9,394 civilian casualties in Ukraine. 4,253 have been killed – amongst which are 272 children- while 5,141 have been injured. (However, actual figures are predicted to be far higher)

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There have been over 7.5 million border crossings from Ukraine since the start of the conflict. Aside from the deaths caused directly by the fighting, and the challenges people face accessing the most basic things they need, Europe will now be met by a mass influx of refugees. There are currently at least five million Ukrainian refugees present across Europe.

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The conflict has simultaneously destroyed the healthcare infrastructure of Ukraine and created an urgent need for medicine and health supplies. Hospitals, clinics and health workers have been attacked throughout the conflict. As of the 2^nd of June, there have been 249 verified attacks on health facilities, killing at least 76 people and injuring 59. The hospitals which haven’t been destroyed are now overwhelmed by those seeking treatments for ailments, either caused or worsened by the current crisis.

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• 249 attacks have impacted health facilities
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• 29 attacks on medical personnel
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• 50 attacks have impacted medical transports

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How is IHP responding?
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IHP is delivering healthcare to affected populations inside Ukraine as well as to the thousands of refugees fleeing over the border into Moldova through shipments of Essential Health Packs (EHPs) to our in-country partners Project HOPE, International Medical Corps and Medical Teams International and our new partner ICMDA. IHP has delivered 161 EHPs across four shipments. These packs will provide over 100,000 treatments to support these healthcare systems facing enormous pressures. Further shipments are planned in the coming weeks. These packs have ensured that the most vulnerable have been able to access vital medical products.

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What is an EHP?

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Recently, our shipment of over 300,000 surgical sutures donated by Johnson and Johnson arrived with our partner Project HOPE at a hospital in Ukraine which will ensure lifesaving operations and procedures can continue to take place.

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What is the current situation in Ukraine?
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Within Ukraine, many are unable to satisfy their most basic needs. Water, food and medicines are in short supply. It remains difficult to deliver vital medicines and aid, given the lack of safe humanitarian passage in areas of active fighting. This problem is likely to get worse considering that areas which had previously been relatively safe, such as Donetsk, are currently undergoing intense shelling.

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Whereas Ukraine was once a global breadbasket, feeding itself and other countries around the world, it is now in the midst of a humanitarian catastrophe. In 2021, Ukrainian grain was used to feed more than 400 million people worldwide. The current conflict in Ukraine means that this year millions of people around the world will not be able to access the food which they have come to depend on. The compromising of the livelihoods of millions within Ukraine as a result of the conflict is therefore just the beginning of a broader humanitarian crisis. The longer the conflict in Ukraine ensues, the worse the global food shortage, impacting the health of affected populations.