“A Deep and Devastating Impact on Civilians”: Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna Highlights Rapidly Escalating Humanitarian Crisis at UN Flash Appeal for Ukraine

Speaking on behalf of the broader INGO community at the United Nation’s $1.7B Flash Appeal for Ukraine, Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna called for the protection of civilians and unimpeded humanitarian access in Ukraine, prioritization of cash assistance as well as direct funding for local organizations responding in Ukraine and refugee-hosting communities. The Flash Appeal for Ukraine was issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

Her full remarks can be found here. Excerpts: 

“We call first and foremost for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure to minimize the suffering and reduce the scale of damage from this conflict. No amount of humanitarian aid will ever replace lives lost.”

“It’s clear that in a short time, this conflict has already exacted a deep and devastating impact on civilians–one that will expand in the coming days, weeks, and months.”

“As Ukraine is a key supplier of wheat, corn, and sunflower oil, impacts to those supply chains will affect many other response efforts, reducing our collective ability to provide commodities in the Middle East and Africa during a time of heightened food insecurity in Afghanistan, Yemen, and the Horn of Africa. To be clear, this is not a local problem; it is not a regional problem; it is in fact a global problem.”

Mercy Corps is preparing a humanitarian response to the unfolding crisis and is currently mobilizing a team to the region – first to Romania and Poland and then, depending on safety and access, into Ukraine – to better understand the evolving humanitarian needs. The organization anticipates providing emergency cash assistance and supporting local organizations that know their community needs best.

Mercy Corps provided support to more than 200,000 people in eastern Ukraine from 2015-2017 following the 2014 conflict, including emergency cash, food, water and sanitation supplies, as well as restoring war-damaged homes and providing small-business development grants and training.