An aid worker has warned that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would not spell the end of residents’ ordeal as a huge rebuild awaits the wartorn country. Alain Homsy, the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Ukraine Country Director, told the Express from Kyiv that he had seen whole villages destroyed as Vladimir Putin’s army continues to lay waste to the country.
Speculation is rife as to whether a truce between Kyiv and Moscow could be reached. Today, President Zelensky said he is ready “work fast to end the war” and “work with the US to agree a strong final deal”. Mr Homsy was asked if people were discussing the prospect of a peace deal. The aid worker said: “I really can’t say. It’s difficult to understand the geopolitics of what is being dicussed elsewhere. I think what we see is the daily effect of the war.
“The continuous effect of the suffering. When you go to a village and you see everything has been destroyed, it’s quite difficult. At least we can bring some support, but the needs are huge in this country because of the war.”
He added: “If there is a peace agreement or a ceasefire, the needs will be continuous afterwards. So we are looking at the longer-term support.”
This will include economic and humanitarian recovery.
Mr Homsy then asked: “And also, what does a peace deal mean? And will people be able to return?”
He then mentioned that a lot of areas were mined at the beginning of the conflict, and “schools have been closed for a long time”.
People have not been able to achieve what they wanted in terms of work or studying. “It’s quite a large effect on the whole country,” Mr Homsy emphasised.
On discussions regarding a deal on the world stage, Ukrainians “are listening to what’s going on”, this is especially the case with people who have been displaced, and do not know when they would be able to return home.
The aid boss added: “There are countless refugees that have left the country over the last few years that are hoping to come back.”
