The World Health Organization (WHO) expects another 2-3 million Ukrainians to leave their homes due to the cold after damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

This was reported by the Director of the WHO European Regional Office,

Hans Kluge.

"Half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure is either damaged or destroyed.

This already negatively affects the health care system and people's health.

Simply put, this winter will be for survival," he said in Kyiv.

According to a WHO representative, attacks on medical and energy infrastructure have resulted in hundreds of hospitals and medical facilities no longer operating at full capacity, with insufficient fuel, water and electricity to meet basic needs.

"We expect another 2-3 million people to leave their homes in search of warmth and safety.

They will face unique health challenges, including respiratory infections such as COVID-19, pneumonia and influenza, as well as a serious risk of contracting diphtheria and measles among the unvaccinated population,” he said.

Also, as Hans Kluge says, after eight months of a full-scale invasion, about 10 million people are already at risk for mental disorders such as acute stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

After the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the UN, more than 14 million Ukrainians left the country.

About 7 million of them returned.

Another 7.7 million people remain in Europe.

According to the distribution of refugees by EU countries, Poland (1.4 million) and Germany (more than a million) are in first place.