How the UN is Supporting the People of Ukraine

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has passed the one-year mark, and the crisis shows no signs of letting up. The war in Ukraine has forced millions of people to flee their homes ⁠— sometimes with little more than the clothes on their backs. Others remain trapped in besieged areas without access to food, water, or essential services. This page will continue to share updates on how the United Nations is helping in Ukraine.

The UN has been stepping up to deliver lifesaving aid to those in need by providing emergency food, water, shelter, and medical care to the most vulnerable, including women, children, and the elderly.

One year in, amid the ongoing destruction, humanitarian needs continue to rise — but resources are falling short. Help the UN provide assistance as people continue to seek shelter and safety in Ukraine and across the region.

UN’S UKRAINE ASSISTANCE BY THE NUMBERS

21M

people affected by this crisis

15.8M

reached with humanitarian assistance within Ukraine

5.8M

refugees

5.1M

people internally displaced

$4.3B

in funding required

87.1%

of needed funds acquired

HOW THE UN IS RESPONDING TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE

The UN is delivering emergency aid and assistance to people across Ukraine and neighboring areas — particularly women, children, elderly people, and those with disabilities. The UN has more than 1,400 UN personnel on the ground across all 24 oblasts in Ukraine.

See what UN agencies are doing to help the people of Ukraine as the conflict continues — and donate to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund to show your support.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

IAEA is monitoring the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power reactors and providing technical assistance on the ground. Learn more.

UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)

More than half of Ukraine’s children have been displaced by the conflict. UNICEF is supporting health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and protection for children and families affected by the violence. Learn more.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UNESCO is helping journalists cover the conflict in Ukraine by providing protective equipment and training on hostile environments. The agency is also mapping how host countries can support education needs for Ukraine’s youngest refugees. Learn more.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

OCHA is coordinating the humanitarian response across the entire UN system to massively scale up services as quickly and effectively as possible. Learn more.

UN Population Fund (UNFPA)

Fighting in Ukraine has destroyed hospitals and disrupted access to healthcare, putting girls and women at grave risk. UNFPA is deploying trained personnel, mobile clinics, hygiene supplies, and emergency reproductive health kits to protect the lives of mothers and their babies. The agency is also providing specialized spaces and services for survivors of gender-based violence. Learn more.

UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

In response to the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, UNHCR is delivering core relief items — such as emergency shelters, thermal blankets, and sleeping mats — as well as providing specialist protection services for children traveling alone and people with disabilities. Learn more.

UN World Food Programme

The World Food Programme is providing emergency food assistance to families affected by the conflict in Ukraine, including cash, vouchers, ready-to-eat foods, and freshly baked bread. Learn more.

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization has opened an operations hub in Rzeszów, Poland, deploying emergency medical teams and supplies across the border. The agency has also developed a pipeline of trauma kits to most Ukrainian cities, each of which contains enough surgical equipment and antiseptics to save the lives of 150 wounded people. Learn more.

NEWS

Ukraine: Latest Russian attack ‘another example’ of civilian suffering

The top UN humanitarian official in Ukraine on Wednesday strongly condemned Russian attacks, including on a busy market in the town of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, that reportedly caused dozens of civilian deaths and injuries, including children.

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‘Immense challenges’ block justice for Ukrainian war victims, rights experts warn

Justice and accountability for Ukraine’s war victims were among the topics raised by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine during its latest country visit, which concluded on Monday.

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Ukraine: Widespread learning loss continues due to war, COVID-19

Ukrainian children are showing signs of widespread learning loss as Russia’s invasion preceded by the COVID-19 pandemic have left them facing a fourth year of education setbacks, a senior UN children’s agency official said on Tuesday.

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Stories

Photos and Video

Diana Mochulska, 9, roller-blades on a street near her family’s apartment in Saltivka, a suburb of Kharkiv, Ukraine. Before the escalation of the war, Saltivka was the most populous residential district in Ukraine, now it is largely abandoned due to conflict and its effects. Photo: Ashley Gilbertson/ UNICEF
In Kharkiv, Ukraine, Mariia, 12, sits for a portrait in front of the school where she was to enter seventh grade in September. Much of the school was recently destroyed in an air strike, so Mariia will now be studying online when classes resume. Photo: Ashley Gilbertson/ UNICEF
29-year-old Yevheniya breastfeeds her six-month-old son, Yehor. Thanks to UNICEF, Yevheniya has learned ho to keep her baby healthy even in the midst of violence and displacement. Photo: Aleksey Filippov/ UNICEF
Secretary-General António Guterres visits Odesa, Ukraine’s main Black Sea port. The Secretary-General called for wealthier countries to help developing nations purchase Ukrainian grain as supplies begin returning to global markets. Photo: Mark Garten/ UN Photo