World Health Organization experts described the invasion of Ukraine as a crisis of regional significance, on Wednesday 2 February, from Geneva, during a press conference on Ukraine, Covid-19 and other health issues.
A crisis that requires assistance to Ukrainians inside the country, to displaced persons and to countries of destination of refugees.
A first convoy with 36 tonnes of medical supplies is due to arrive in Kyiv on 3 February, with aid being transported from the Dubai supply centre. Access to Ukraine is still possible, notably via Poland, but it is becoming more limited.
Some products have been pre-positioned and logistical arrangements have been made on site. The WHO representative in Ukraine, Jarno Habicht, reports that his organisation is working hand in hand with the Ukrainian government. However, the WHO is concerned about the distribution of these supplies where they are needed.
It wants secure corridors for the delivery of aid and ceasefires for its distribution.
The organisation deplores the attacks on health workers and health facilities. It calls on the Kremlin to respect international humanitarian law.
WHO will adapt the content of its deliveries, but stresses the difficulty of obtaining a detailed assessment of needs on the ground. Ukrainian hospitals are in urgent need of oxygen. They are all the more acute because of the closure of local factories. There is a lack of medicines for diabetes and cancer. As the fighting intensifies, surgical kits are increasingly needed. The risk of shortages in hospitals is also related to electricity.
The organisation reiterated its calls for contributions to fund this assistance.
The Russian invasion comes on top of the Covid-19 epidemic. A peak was reached in February, but testing capacity has now been hit. The WHO fears the consequences of increased and undetected transmission of the virus, combined with low vaccination coverage (20% of the population, 65% in Kyiv). The WHO advocates vaccination, with priority given to vulnerable people and health workers.
Other diseases such as measles and rubella are of concern to the WHO because of the disruption of health services.
Together with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and its partners in Ukraine, the organisation had set up infrastructure to deal with epidemics. It is working to set up a monitoring system.
Population movements will exacerbate the risk of transmission of communicable diseases and increase pressure on neighbouring health systems.
The WHO says it is ready to assist countries bordering Ukraine in providing medical assistance to refugees. This includes mental health, HIV, tuberculosis and cancer care.
The WHO has not yet had the opportunity to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or Russian President Vladimir Putin, but says that it hopes to do so.
The organisation stressed that it was not a political organisation, but called on the Russian government to rectify its position. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)