Statement by Amy Pope, Director General of IOM - Marking 1,000 Days Since the Start of the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

Geneva, 19 November 2024 – A thousand days have now passed since the full-scale invasion began, leaving a trail of grief and devastation in its wake. More than 14.6 million people across Ukraine are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. That includes 3.5 million people displaced within the country, many of whom are women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities.   

As winter arrives, the persistent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – decimating 65 per cent of the country’s generation capacity – have left communities struggling without adequate electricity, heating, or water. This is a matter of survival for millions of people and requires the international community to stand together in solidarity.   

I visited Ukraine in April this year and I saw firsthand the devastation the war has wrought and the scale of the challenges ahead. IOM urges governments, private sector leaders, and individuals around the world to sustain their support for those in greatest need.  

Together, we can ensure that even in the darkest of winters, there is warmth, dignity, and the promise of a peaceful future.