UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. Since 1950, UNHCR has led international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and prosecution. The organisation provides them with life-saving assistance including shelter, food, as well as water and also helps safeguard their fundamental human rights.
UNHCR invests in developing solutions for displaced people, ensuring that they have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. UNHCR also works to make sure that stateless people are granted a nationality and a citizenship.
In Ukraine, UNHCR has been working since 1994 to protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons. Achievements include support to the development of national legislation relating to the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons. UNHCR Ukraine has contributed to an effective asylum system in Ukraine, and also provided humanitarian assistance.
Since 2014, UNHCR has been supporting the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian civil society in responding to the forced displacement of around 1.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Donbas in eastern Ukraine. UNHCR Ukraine provides legal, material and social assistance to them directly or in partnership with international and local organisations. UNHCR focuses its activities on strengthening IDP rights and freedoms, improving their living conditions and providing long-term solutions.
We work to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home.