Ukraine emergency: one year on
When the invasion began, Yulia’s family home was destroyed by shelling.
After months, Yulia and her son were finally able to reach safety in Romania. Please read on to learn more about how families like Yulia’s have been affected this past year. We hope you consider continuing to support UNHCR’s efforts in Ukraine.
© UK for UNHCR/Ioana Epure
Ukraine emergency: one year on
When the invasion began, Yulia’s family home was destroyed by shelling. After months, Yulia and her son were finally able to reach safety in Romania. Please read on to learn more about how families like Yulia’s have been affected this past year. We hope you consider continuing to support UNHCR’s efforts in Ukraine. Photo: © UK for UNHCR/Ioana Epure
Our impact and target figures
4.32 million
people reached through UNHCR’s assistance
1,778,000
people reached with essential food and household
164,000
people received shelter support through interventions in collective centres and damaged homes
987,300
people received cash assistance from UNHCR to support their basic needs
1,239,400
people received protection assistance and referrals at key locations and through hotlines, including psychosocial support and legal aid
What’s happening in Ukraine?
Friday 24th February marks the sad milestone of 12 months of the war in Ukraine and the beginning of one of the largest forced displacement crises in the world today.
More than 8 million refugees from Ukraine have now crossed borders to seek safety across Europe. An additional 6.9 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine’s borders.
The ongoing hostilities have caused extensive damage to public infrastructure. Attacks on energy infrastructure have caused emergency blackouts and major disruptions, whilst millions of Ukrainians are living in damaged homes or are without warm winter clothing or access to heating. Sadly, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023 estimates 17.6 million people will be in need of multisectoral humanitarian assistance in 2023 (45% women, 23% children, 15% with disability). For this reason, UNHCR is urgently upscaling relief operations across Ukraine and in neighbouring countries to support fleeing civilians, and humanitarian needs like shelter, protection and basic assistance are even more urgent.
How long has UNHCR been in Ukraine?
UNHCR has been working in Ukraine since 1994 and established a country office the following year in 1995, supporting refugees and asylum-seekers, stateless people, and internally displaced and other conflict-affected persons. We have a wealth of experience and longstanding partners in the region that have helped to shape our response to the war in Ukraine.
Who is UNHCR partnering with in Ukraine?
Partnerships are critical for effective emergency preparedness and response. UNHCR operates in line with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) to ensure that coordination is streamlined, complementary and mutually reinforcing and to avoid duplication at the delivery level. UNHCR works with multiple partners, from local NGOs on the ground to coordinating with larger aid agencies, including other UN Agencies. For Ukraine specifically, you can see a list of UNHCR’s partners, their locations and specific projects here: www.unhcr.org/ua/en/ngo-partners
In addition to local NGOs and other UN Agencies, in 2022, UNHCR concluded three Memoranda of Understanding with central ministries and six with Oblast Administrations and led the coordination of the Protection, the Shelter/Non-Food Items, and the Camp Coordination and Camp Management humanitarian clusters.
UNHCR in action
UNHCR’s unique position on the world stage means that we can mobilise supplies and lifesaving support for up to 600,000 people within 72 hours. On 25 February, UNHCR declared a Level 3 Emergency in Ukraine – the most serious on the scale – signalling an exceptional response to the war in Ukraine. UNHCR rapidly scaled up its presence inside Ukraine to be able to reach people in need across the country, opening offices and warehouses in new locations and sending teams of emergency responders into the country with more than 200 staff now on the ground.
By the end of 2022:
- 4.32 million people were reached with targeted assistance.
- 1,778,308 people were reached with essential food and non-food items. This well exceeded our target of 1.5 million people.
- We provided 987,308 people with cash assistance to support their basic needs.
- 164,129 people received shelter support.
- 1,139,401 people received protection assistance and referrals to key support such as psychosocial support and legal aid.
What are the funding needs for Ukraine in 2023?
UNHCR’s financial requirements in Ukraine in 2023 are $1.107 billion. Last year saw record levels of funding to UNHCR and immense solidarity and generosity towards those forced to flee. We are extremely grateful for this support. However, with the unpredictability of the war in Ukraine we must ensure we reach 100% funding by the end of the year to ensure vital humanitarian support reaches those most in need. The priority areas for funding in 2023 are primarily well-being and basic needs, including cash assistance, hygiene kits, warm winter items and fuel, as well as shelter and protection. We will also be devoting budget towards local integration solutions and reaching more refugees with registration documents.
Find out more about the situation in Ukraine
To discuss any of this information and if you have any questions on the situation in Ukraine please contact us at [email protected] or visit our Trusts and Foundations page here.
If you would like to access the latest data and reports on UNHCR’s vital work in Ukraine, please visit the Ukraine Operations portal.
To find out more about UNHCR’s work in Ukraine, please visit UNHCR Ukraine.
To discuss any of this information and if you have any questions on the situation in Ukraine please contact us [email protected] or visit our Trusts and Foundations page here.
“Thank you for the support that you provided us with. You are doing great work, it is very important for people here.”
79-year-old Liudmyla was forced to flee her home near Kyiv to Fastiv and stayed there for three months. She returned to a house with a collapsed roof, broken doors & shattered windows. Emergency shelter kits can be quickly deployed to carry out makeshift repairs to houses like Liudmyla’s, ensuring homes are habitable. To support UNHCR’s work, please donate today.
©UNHCR/Victoria Andrievska
“Thank you for the support that you provided us with. You are doing great work, it is very important for people here.”
79-year-old Liudmyla was forced to flee her home near Kyiv to Fastiv and stayed there for three months. She returned to a house with a collapsed roof, broken doors and shattered windows. Emergency shelter kits can be quickly deployed to carry out makeshift repairs to houses like Liudmyla’s, ensuring homes are habitable and the people within them protected from the elements. UNHCR’s work around the world relies on voluntary donations. To support UNHCR’s work, please donate today.
©UNHCR/Victoria Andrievska