Russia-Ukraine crisis: Human tragedy in an unwanted war

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Much is being written and talked about the political and economic impact of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and how this may lead to a shift in the balance of power between the east and west.

The energy crisis that it may generate for nations reliant on Russia for their supplies and the impact on the cost of living as the supplies of gas, oil and goods are inevitably affected.

Let us also note that the Russians will also not escape the dire consequences of the economic and political isolation. This is a ‘double-edged’ reality which will cut both ways.

The human scars of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war on Ukraine will be felt for a long time perhaps for generations.

Undoubtedly, these are very important points of contention particularly for the western and the global leadership and rightly so, but there is also an immediate human tragedy of even a greater significance, unfolding right in front of us, the consequences of which will be far too greater and much darker for the millions of Ukrainians and the nations explicitly or implicitly caught in the war they certainly did not want.

Despite inevitable logistic difficulties with obtaining accurate information, we are already being told that the combined estimates for soldiers killed in the conflict thus far run into thousands. Over 600 civilians were also killed. These figures are being added to on a daily basis as the fighting for the control of towns and cities rages.

There is also another darker aspect to this human tragedy is unfolding before us.

The UN describes it as the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War-II.

The UN estimates that already around 2.8 millions Ukrainian citizens have been forced to flee their homes and their country into Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova and Belarus. Majority of these are women, children and those deemed unfit to fight, uncertain of what further trauma awaits them.

As the situation continues to unfold, an estimated 4 million people may flee Ukraine, not knowing whether when and, if at all, they may ever be able to return to their homes. And even if one day they are able to return, what would they be returning to seeing their villages, towns and cities being obliterated?

The scars from their deep sense of loss of being parted from their homes, their families, their friends and their communities, and being thrown into despair will remain with them for the remainder of their lives.

More crucially, the war in Ukraine presents an immediate and growing threat to the lives and well-being of the country’s 7.5 million children.

Relief agencies working inside Ukraine are sharing reports of children being killed, wounded and deeply traumatized by the devastating violence all around them. Families are terrified, in shock, and desperate for safety.

Hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed, while damage to civilian infrastructure has left hundreds of thousands of people without safe water or electricity.

The country is running low on critical medical supplies and health services are interrupted and health supplies fail to reach. Children have to hide in bomb shelters, basements, metro stations and other underground areas.

Psychologists and other experts fear severe mental health issues for children as their sense of stability around them is being dismantled and disintegrated.

The writer is a British citizen of Pakistani origin with keen interest in the Pakistani and international affairs.