GENEVA

As the conflict in Ukraine enters its 1,000th day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday that over 14.6 million people across the war-torn country are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

"A thousand days have now passed since the (Russia's) full-scale invasion began, leaving a trail of grief and devastation in its wake," IOM Director General Amy Pope said in a statement.

Pope said the total figure includes 3.5 million people displaced within the country, many of whom are women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

She noted that the persistent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure -- decimating 65% of the country’s generation capacity -- are a matter of survival for millions of people and require the international community to stand together in solidarity as winter approaches.

"IOM urges governments, private sector leaders, and individuals around the world to sustain their support for those in greatest need," she said. "Together, we can ensure that even in the darkest of winters, there is warmth, dignity, and the promise of a peaceful future."