UNHCR / GRANDI UKRAINE MESSAGE

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi expressed grave concern over the “fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine,” and called on neighbouring countries to “to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection.” UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:42
• Production Date: 24 February 2022
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: FILIPPO GRANDI
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: CONFLICT SITUATION; REFUGEES
• Geographic Subject: UKRAINE
• MAMS Id: 2712898
• Parent Id: 2712898
• Alternate Title: unifeed220224f

Description

STORY: UNHCR / GRANDI UKRAINE MESSAGE
TRT: 1:42
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 FEBRUARY 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

23 FEBRUARY 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
"We are gravely concerned about the fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine.
The humanitarian consequences on civilian populations will be devastating. There are no winners in war, but countless lives will be torn apart.
We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety. Civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must be protected and safeguarded at all times, in line with International Humanitarian Law.
UNHCR is working with the authorities, UN and other partners in Ukraine and is ready to provide humanitarian assistance wherever necessary and possible. To that effect, security and access for humanitarian efforts must be guaranteed.
UNHCR is also working with governments in neighbouring countries, calling on them to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection. We stand ready to support efforts by all to respond to any situation of forced displacement.
Accordingly, we have stepped up our operations and capacity in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries.
We remain firmly committed to support all affected populations in Ukraine and countries in the region.”

Storyline

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi expressed grave concern over the “fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine,” and called on neighbouring countries to “to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection.”

In a video message on Thursday (24 Feb), Grandi said the humanitarian consequences on civilian populations would be “devastating.” He added, “There are no winners in war but countless lives will be torn apart.”

The High Commissioner said there were already reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety. He said, “Civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must be protected and safeguarded at all times, in line with International Humanitarian Law.”

Grandi said UNHCR is working with the authorities, UN and other partners in Ukraine and is ready to provide humanitarian assistance wherever necessary and possible, and stressed that “security and access for humanitarian efforts must be guaranteed.”
He said UNHCR is also working with governments in neighbouring countries and stands ready to support efforts by all to respond to “any situation of forced displacement.”

Grandi said, “We have stepped up our operations and capacity in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. We remain firmly committed to support all affected populations in Ukraine and countries in the region.”