After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine has grown exponentially. To address the immediate needs of people, UNHCR rolled out a multi-purpose cash assistance programme (information about the programme available here). This assistance is provided to vulnerable individuals and families in coordination and cooperation with the Government of Ukraine, in particular the Ministry of Social Policy.
UNHCR also provides material assistance to improve the living conditions of displaced families, this includes the provision of items to increase the number of sleeping spaces and improve living conditions in collective sites where IDPs are accommodated.
In order to support people to return home or to remain in their homes, UNHCR continues light and medium repairs of homes in conflict-affected areas, in particular, in Chernihiv and Kyiv oblasts. Through its partners, UNHCR distributes shelter materials, including emergency shelter kits, in areas affected by shelling, such as Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv and other oblasts of Ukraine.
UNHCR aims to put people at the center of our operation, and we provide information on available assistance and services through hotlines, mobile teams, community-outreach volunteers and social media. All conflict-affected and displaced people can access legal services, psychological support individually or in groups, and social accompaniment is available to the most vulnerable individuals, be it children or adults. Our partners are present throughout the country and information about their services and presence are available at the link.
UNHCR coordinates work of three humanitarian Clusters:
- Protection Cluster
- Shelter and NFI Cluster
- CCCM Cluster (Cluster responsible for coordination of work in collective sites