The wounds and medical needs of people fleeing Kurakhove, Ukraine, show that there is no access to medical care in the embattled city, partially encircled by Russian forces, and people wait hours or even days to evacuate, made harder by continued bombing.

Evacuees arrive at a transit centre in Pavlohrad, 150 kilometres away, where MSF doctors and psychologists have treated more than 200 patients over the past two months. As fighting continues, it is increasingly difficult for people to flee Kurakhove and the surrounding areas.

"Wounded people await evacuation with limited or no access to clean water to wash their wounds or apply basic dressings. Our teams see patients with mine and blast injuries sustained four to five days earlier, due to evacuation delays" says MSF doctor Oleksandr Hontariev.

The situation is becoming more dangerous as the frontline advances. Shelling has destroyed the Kurakhove Thermal Power Plant, leaving people without electricity or heating. The reservoir dam has also been repeatedly shelled, posing a significant flooding threat to nearby settlements. Hospitals in the area are no longer operational.

As fighting continues, the evacuation and treatment of wounded must be prioritized. Hospitals and civilian infrastructure must be respected and protected.