Ukraine: Humanitarian Response Plan (February 2023) [EN/UK]

Foreword by the Humanitarian Coordinator

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by Russian forces, the lives of countless women, men, and children have been torn apart and so many have needlessly died. The common thread running throughout the year has tragically been one of destruction, displacement, and suffering from continuous shelling and air strikes. Millions were forced to leave Ukraine and become refugees, and millions more have been displaced within the country.

These facts are well-known. Less well-know, however, is that the first line of responders to the tragic events are local volunteer and civil society organizations who have come together to support their neighbours. The humanitarian community has worked tirelessly to complement these efforts and to support the people of Ukraine.

Together in 2022 we reached close to 16 million people – nearly a third of the population – with lifesaving and life-sustaining humanitarian assistance. We carried out the world’s largest humanitarian cash response, supporting almost 6 million people in Ukraine. We organized thousands of humanitarian convoys delivering vital supplies such as food, water, medicine, hygiene kits, and winter supplies to war-torn communities and to those who had fled to safer areas. We worked around the clock to order and deliver generators to critical facilities across the country, mainly to hospitals and shelters, to make sure essential services could continue and people would be protected against the cold of the winter. We also provided material and carried out repairs so that people whose homes had been damaged could live with dignity.

The range of needs and the fast-changing environment necessitated a determined and agile response from the humanitarian community. Suspended air travel, damage to transport infrastructure, the presence of explosive ordnance, and intense hostilities around a shifting front line required tailored approaches. This included cash where markets were operational, in-kind assistance to heavily damaged areas, direct deliveries where possible, and working with community-based groups for greater efficiency in our response. We pre-positioned supplies in different parts of the country which allowed us to deploy within 72-hours to places like Kherson city shortly after Ukrainian forces regained control.

Our ability to reach people under the temporary military control of the Russian Federation has, however, been greatly impacted by impediments imposed on us. Since February 2022, aid workers have been prevented from crossing the front line with supplies for people in desperate need. As a matter of principle, we have a duty to provide assistance to Ukrainians throughout the territory. It is a matter of great concern that we have not been able to do this at scale.
Moving forward, we will continue our advocacy to support all Ukrainians.

In 2022, the international community raised $3.8 billion for Ukraine – most of it channeled directly through the hundreds of organizations which were part of our Humanitarian Flash Appeal. The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund disbursed over $190 million to help local, national, and international partners that have been at the forefront of the response. The outpouring of support from Member States, the private sector, and individual donors enabled this effort, ensuring that we could focus on our work and not on raising funds.

Our response also benefitted from the strong partnerships we built with the national, regional, and municipal Ukrainian authorities, whom I would like to thank for their continued collaboration. I’d also like to share my deepest respect for all the colleagues, both humanitarians and volunteers, who delivered along the frontline – your determination has helped alleviate so much suffering and is an inspiration to us all.

Our work must continue. Hostilities continue to drive urgent humanitarian needs. For 2023, we seek $3.9 billion to make sure we can provide over 11 million people – out of nearly 18 million in need – with the assistance they require. I am confident that with the support of our local and international partners, we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine.

Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown