Ukraine situation

GLOBAL APPEAL 2023

The international armed conflict in Ukraine has forced millions of people to leave their homes in search of safety and protection. They will require assistance inside the country and across Europe.

Family portrait. Viktoria Tytarenko, 26 years old, is seating on a bed accompanied by her mother, her sister, her son, and her nephew.
Blue Dot Hub supports vulnerable refugee children and adults. Viktoria Tytarenko, 26 years old, fled from war torn city of Nikolaev on the 15th of March. Accompanied by her mother, her sister, her son, and her nephew, she took the road to Chisinau after two rockets had hit the neighbouring building. © UNHCR/Maxime Fossat
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2023 situation overview

The international armed conflict in Ukraine has forced millions of people to leave their homes in search of safety and protection. They require assistance inside the country and across Europe.  

In Ukraine, homes and critical infrastructure have been damaged and destroyed. Outages of electricity, heating and water have been seen in many areas, while other services such as health care, public transport and internet connectivity have also been disrupted. As a result, many people find themselves without accommodation and unable to meet their basic needs, including for food, water and medicine. The delivery of assistance remains difficult in many areas due to ongoing hostilities and the resulting lack of safe humanitarian access. In 2023, the needs inside Ukraine are expected to remain enormous.

UNHCR will continue to support the Government in its response to the needs of internally displaced and conflict-affected people, responding to immediate needs through cash assistance, the distribution of core relief items, shelter and winterization support, while contributing to early recovery as part of the coordinated inter-agency response. 

Most refugees from Ukraine have fled to neighbouring countries, while some have sought safety elsewhere in Europe. Host countries continue to demonstrate extraordinary solidarity, providing refugees with protection and assistance. The scale of the displacement, however, continues to put considerable pressure on available services. In 2023, the focus of the response is expected to transition from emergency response to supporting governments in fostering the inclusion of refugees in national systems. Some operations, including in the Republic of Moldova, will continue small-scale, targeted cash-for-protection programmes for the most vulnerable. Given the exceptionally high proportion of women and children among the refugees, activities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse and trafficking will remain a priority, as well as child protection activities. 

UNHCR will continue to extend its support to refugee-hosting countries in the coordination of the response, including through the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine situation.