The actual number of civilian deaths in Ukraine is “many thousands of victims” greater than the current recorded number of 3,381, the United Nations acknowledged Tuesday. At the same time, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that more than eight million Ukrainians have been displaced.
The current death toll in Ukraine was calculated by 55 UN monitoring teams in the country. Most of the civilians were killed by artillery fire, rocket attacks and other explosives.
Matilda Bogner, head of the UN human rights monitoring team, says the UN will soon provide an estimate of the number of victims.
The UN would especially struggle to count the number of victims in Mariupol. “It’s a black hole,” Bogner sighs. “It’s incredibly difficult to access and verify information.”
The southern port city has been bombed daily for two months. Nine out of ten buildings have been severely damaged and half of all buildings have been destroyed. Journalists in the city wrote about the despair and precarious situation in Mariupol in early April. In addition, recently released satellite images discovered mass graves.
Moscow denies hitting civilian targets with air strikes. However, numerous investigations have already shown that the Russians are indeed responsible for the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian citizens.
More than eight million people displaced
According to the IOM, the humanitarian crisis in the country is worsening every day. The number of displaced persons has now passed eight million. While Ukrainian refugees first sought refuge in eastern Ukraine, more and more displaced people are now choosing to travel further, the organization writes.
More and more displaced persons say they need financial support. According to the IOM, this concerns two in three people. More than 70 percent say they need the money for food and/or medical costs. There are also more and more Ukrainians who report that their home has been damaged.
More than 5.9 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24. Some of this group has since returned. According to UN figures, this concerns more than one and a half million people. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, even two out of three residents of the capital have already returned.
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