The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) highlights that, from the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, until April 9, 2023, Ukraine has confirmed 22,734 civilian casualties — 8,490 deaths and 14,244 injuries. OHCHR says the true figures are significantly higher as some incidents have gone unreported. The armed attacks on Ukrainians, which include gunfire, missiles, shelling from artillery, mines, rocket launches and bombings, have led to many injured civilians and military personnel requiring urgent reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation services and prostheses. The UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv receives many of…
Author: Saiesha
Amid the conflict in Ukraine, many organizations within and outside of Ukraine are providing critical aid to Ukrainians in the form of evacuation assistance, medical care, food, shelter and more. However, one particular organization has adopted a different approach to aid efforts with a unique program that distinctly stands out. During a recent trip to Ukraine, marking the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the President of The Borgen Project, Clint Borgen, met with ENGin. In an interview with The Borgen Project, Katerina Manoff, CEO and founder of ENGin, offers insight into the organization’s unique efforts to support…
The one-year mark of the conflict in Ukraine has now passed and the humanitarian needs remain dire. More than 17 million people, equaling close to 40% of Ukraine’s population, require urgent humanitarian aid. About 8 million Ukrainians have fled their home country, seeking refuge in bordering nations. In Ukraine itself, more than 5 million people are facing internal displacement amid the destruction of critical infrastructure. The death tolls continue to rise — confirmed U.N. figures place the death toll of civilians at more than 7,000 but the actual number exceeds this. Amid the war, more than 650 humanitarian organizations are…
As of March 5, 2023, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has reported 21,793 civilian casualties (8,173 deaths and 13,620 injured persons) since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Considering the staggering numbers of displacements in Ukraine, Poland has welcomed more than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees into its borders, the U.N. Refugee Agency reports. During times of crisis, the efforts of humanitarian organizations provide host countries with critical support to address the needs of refugees. During a recent trip to Poland, marking the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the President of The…
According to the U.N. Refugee Agency, before the escalation in Ukraine, the country reported 2.7 million people with disabilities. Though times of conflict and crisis pose extreme difficulties for any individual, people with disabilities face increased vulnerabilities. Apart from facing barriers in undertaking long journeys to escape conflict-affected areas, evacuation plans do not typically take into account the needs of people with impediments and most shelters are inaccessible for those using wheelchairs, among other issues. People with disabilities also face high risks of experiencing violence, abandonment and separation from their support systems. The niche work of organizations that specifically aid…
One year into the Russia-Ukraine war, the humanitarian consequences continue to magnify. More than 8 million refugees from Ukraine are scattered across Europe as of February 28, 2023, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reports. Ukrainian Minister of Health Viktor Liashko said in January 2023 that Russian forces have damaged or destroyed at least 1,000 health facilities in Ukraine. Humanitarian organizations play crucial roles during these times of crisis. During a recent trip to Poland, marking the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the President of The Borgen Project, Clint Borgen, met with the organization Polish Humanitarian Action. In an…
TACOMA, Washington — The Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act was signed into law in 2017 with the aim of promoting basic education initiatives across the world to strengthen education systems, increase access to “safe learning,” assist countries in raising literacy rates, improve the quality of foundational education and leverage education as a tool to spur sustainable economic growth. The READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 was introduced in the 117th Congress and passed in the House of Representatives on September 20, 2022, but did not progress in the Senate. On January 24, 2023, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and…
MARIETTA, Georgia — In 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published a cookbook titled “From Our Table to Yours: Fusion Cuisine.” The book chronicles stories of forcibly displaced people, providing insight into the lives of people forced to start over while sharing recipes from these refugee communities. Using Cooking to Create a Livelihood For refugees, food serves as a way to preserve their home countries and cultures. This is the case for 39-year-old Natasha who sought asylum in Belize with her daughter. The mother and daughter pair forcibly fled El Salvador after they received threats from gang members,…
SINGAPORE, Singapore — One would be hard-pressed to believe that, in 1988, investing in Nigeria’s economy was a lucrative idea. With a population of 91 million, life expectancy was just 46 years and annual per capita income was, in today’s values, approximately $535. Furthermore, only 22% of the population survived on more than $2 per day, around 50% of the population did not have access to potable water and 63% of the population did not have “access to proper sanitation.” However, where others may have seen a lost cause, Haresh and Sajen Aswani of the Tolaram Group saw tremendous opportunity. Their…
ST. JOSEPH, Trinidad — An increase in extreme floods in Northern Bangladesh has rendered large portions of its land inhospitable to its primary crops. Fortunately, locals’ attempts at adapting have proven even more successful than anticipated. The introduction of corn crops in Bangladesh is lifting many farmers out of poverty. This introduction has the potential to save the country foreign exchange funds otherwise expended on corn imports. The Flood-Prone North With a massive network of 230 rivers flowing through Bangladesh, 80% of the country is considered a flood plain. In recent years, climate change has been intensifying the incidence and magnitude of…