Intensifying drone attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers are creating a major obstacle to aid operations in Ukraine, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said on Wednesday. He warned that the growing threat is putting civilians at risk while also making it increasingly difficult for relief teams to reach communities in need.

Fletcher also said the United Nations requires more than USD 2 billion for its prioritised humanitarian response in Ukraine this year, with the approaching winter among its biggest concerns. He said humanitarian funding has become more difficult to secure as governments redirect spending towards defence and domestic priorities.

Drones Create Growing Threat To Aid Workers

Fletcher spoke to The Associated Press after visiting Kherson in southern Ukraine, where he witnessed the conditions faced by communities living under the constant threat of Russian drones.

Kherson, which is divided by the Dnipro River and remains close to an active front line, was described by Fletcher as “quite chilling”. Russian forces control the eastern bank of the river, while Ukrainian forces hold the western bank.

From across the river, kamikaze and surveillance drones regularly target civilians, vehicles and public transport, creating a persistent danger for people living and working in the city.

“It really gives us an insight into the dangers ahead of us,” Fletcher said.

Humanitarian Vehicles Also Targeted

Fletcher made the remarks after attending a commemoration for two humanitarian workers who were killed while carrying out their duties. He said drones were threatening not only civilians but also the aid workers attempting to protect and assist them.

“Drones are a real threat to not just civilians but the humanitarians who are here to protect them,” Fletcher said.

Humanitarian workers and their operations are protected under international humanitarian law, but Fletcher said even clearly marked humanitarian vehicles had been struck.

“So that does restrict what we can do,” he said, warning that the threat was limiting the ability of relief organisations to operate safely and reach vulnerable communities.

Local Aid Groups Face Particular Risk

Fletcher said local organisations were especially exposed to attacks because they form a major part of Ukraine’s humanitarian response.

More than two-thirds of operations funded through Ukraine’s humanitarian fund are carried out by local organisations, according to Fletcher.

“They’re the ones who are saying most loudly to us, we’re not protected,” he said.

The continued attacks have added another layer of difficulty to humanitarian operations in areas where aid groups are already working amid damaged infrastructure and ongoing fighting.

Winter Raises Fresh Humanitarian Concerns

Fletcher also warned that further damage to civilian infrastructure could leave millions of people vulnerable during the winter. Electricity, water and gas systems remain particularly important as temperatures fall, raising concerns about a repeat of severe conditions experienced last winter.

The UN has significantly narrowed its humanitarian priorities worldwide as donor funding has declined. Fletcher said the organisation had initially identified 87 million people facing the most severe humanitarian needs, but the figure has since increased to approximately 92 million.

He attributed the increase to the Ebola outbreak in Africa, an earthquake in Venezuela and other conflicts. The UN is seeking USD 23 billion to provide life-saving assistance to those people and has so far raised around USD 11 billion.

Ukraine Aid Faces Wider Funding Pressure

Ukraine remains comparatively well funded when measured against other humanitarian crises, Fletcher said. Around 70 to 75 per cent of its prioritised funding requirement has been covered.

However, he stressed that even complete funding of the humanitarian plan would address only part of Ukraine’s overall humanitarian needs.

“We’re in a more transactional world, I would say a more selfish world,” Fletcher said, describing the increasingly difficult environment for humanitarian fundraising.

He added that the UN needed to demonstrate that limited public funds were being used efficiently and responsibly.

“We have to show governments that we are spending their taxpayers’ money sensibly, wisely, in a prioritised way,” he said.

UN Raises Concern Over Lack Of Accountability

A new UN assessment released on Wednesday said 907 aid workers faced violence last year, while more than 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed over the past three years.

Fletcher said he could not reassure his colleagues that those responsible for attacks on aid workers would be held accountable, given the international response so far.

He argued that accountability should extend beyond the individuals who physically carried out attacks and include those responsible for ordering or executing them.

“I want to see investigations into the people who fired the weapon or flew the drone,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher said the combination of expanding drone attacks, funding shortages and weak accountability was making an already challenging humanitarian response in Ukraine increasingly difficult.

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