The following wave of refugees to flee Ukraine are prone to be much more susceptible to sickness and financial hardship than the 1 million individuals who have already left to flee the Russian invasion, a senior World Well being Group official informed Reuters on Thursday.
Talking from a warehouse in Warsaw, Poland, the place the WHO is coordinating the supply of 36 tons of medical help to Ukraine, Europe director Hans Kluge mentioned the scenario was already a "humanitarian disaster" that was set to worsen as Russian troops encompass and bombard main Ukrainian cities.
Kluge's feedback come as officers from Russia and Ukraine mentioned they've agreed to ascertain humanitarian corridors for the supply of help and probably to introduce a ceasefire in some areas to assist fleeing civilians.
The United Nations mentioned that 1 million folks have now fled their houses in Ukraine, heading to Poland and different neighbours to the west.
"If the army battle escalates, which means we're going to see increasingly very susceptible folks coming with solely the garments on their physique," Kluge mentioned.
Many refugees within the first wave embrace individuals who had the monetary means and household connections to flee and meet kin or mates in Poland or elsewhere, he mentioned.
However as combating intensifies, Ukrainians with fewer sources and in poorer well being "who're going to want much more help" can be pressured to make the damaging journey to the border, Kluge mentioned. Those that stay behind danger an absence of medical provides and emergency care, he mentioned.
The WHO help, delivered to Poland on Thursday, will transfer to the Ukrainian metropolis of Lviv first after which into battle areas from Friday. It contains trauma kits for 1,000 folks in addition to different medical take care of as much as 150,000 folks, together with most cancers medicines and insulin for diabetes sufferers.
(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; Modifying by Michele Gershberg and Rosalba O'Brien)
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