Durban — The Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UASA) held a peaceful march to raise awareness about the horrors that are faced by women and children in he country.
Under the hashtags: #StandWithUkraine, #StopRussianAggression, #StopGBV, the association said the women were faced with the challenges of food shortages in the shops, no petrol, and, not being able to work and make money.
Nor are they able to receive pensions, because banks don't work, they’re starving because the farm/garden has been destroyed by Russians, and they have no access to water, food and toilets.
On Sunday, a large group of people gathered at Whalebone pier and peacefully marched in support of Ukraine along the Umhlanga promenade.
The UASA called on all businesses to immediately and decisively stop co-operation with Russia.
It further urged the South African government to condemn Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and to contribute to the eradication and prevention of gender-based violence, both in Ukraine and South Africa.
According to the association, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a huge impact on women and girls, which include sexual and gender-based violence.
It said there were hundreds of reported and unreported cases of Russian soldiers using sexual assault as a regular weapon of intimidation and humiliation against Ukrainian women and children.
It further stated that more than 63 000 children have been born under the Russian missile strikes and in the bomb shelters.
"The UN statistics showed that nearly 13 million Ukrainians, predominantly women with children, were forced to leave their homes due to the war.
"Russian invasion has turned Ukraine into the largest in the world territory of landmines, which is estimated to continue to harm civilians, especially children, for the next 20 years.
“Almost 27 000 registered Russia’s war crimes have been manifested through the deliberate killing of civilians, mining cemeteries and even dead bodies, and leaving bombs in cars, domestic appliances and even children’s toys," the statement read.
Speaking to the Daily News, UASA Durban representative, Katya Fedkina said as the governments and companies continued to fuel and finance the illegal war they were contributing to the violence against civilians.
She said by doing so, the government and businesses were leading to food shortages and prices spiking worldwide.
"Trading with Russia is pushing South Africa on to “grey list”, which will have wide-reaching consequences for the country’s financial system. (It) might lead to capital and currency outflows, increase of administrative and funding costs for banks, and will definitely bring reputational damage.
“The consequences of the Russian invasion would also affect the most vulnerable women with children in South Africa, as petrol price hikes, food shortages, and financial instabilities all contribute to higher rates of gender-based violence," said Fedkina.
Daily News