UN: Civilian Casualties in Ukraine in March Increased by 70 Percent Compared to the Same Month Last Year

Karolina Lindholm Billing, the UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, stated, “According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, civilian casualties in the country in March were 70 percent higher than in the same month last year.”

Karolina Lindholm Billing made evaluations during the weekly press briefing at the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva.

Billing noted that the Russian army's deadly attacks in Ukraine have intensified worryingly since the beginning of the year, recalling that 12 people were killed, 87 were injured, and homes were damaged in yesterday’s attack on the capital, Kyiv.

She pointed out that recent attacks on various cities in Ukraine have resulted in numerous civilian deaths and damage to infrastructure, saying, “According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, civilian casualties in the country in March were 70 percent higher than in the same month last year.”

Billing noted that UNHCR is helping affected individuals recover and rebuild their lives, adding, “We are grateful to the governments and private sector partners who fund these critical programs. However, more is needed to provide timely and predictable responses to the calls from affected individuals and authorities. UNHCR and its partners have the capacity and access to deliver services efficiently if the necessary funding is received.”