Dear Supporter, As the war in Ukraine continues to destroy lives and tear families apart, UNHCR is committed to stay and deliver for the millions of people in need. With your support, we are providing safety and protection for refugees, distributing cash assistance for the most vulnerable, and sending aid to cities under siege. Here’s how your gifts are helping the people of Ukraine hold on to hope and strength.
Refugees helping refugees Once a refugee himself, Dr Anthony Azerioha studied medicine in Ukraine before moving to Germany to work. When he heard about the war, he travelled to Poland to offer his assistance. He is now working in Rseszow, where an indoor market has been transformed into a shelter with 500 beds, a kitchen, and children’s play space. Poland has received the majority of refugees from Ukraine – more than 2.7 million have crossed the border so far. UNHCR is distributing aid items, providing legal and social support, and helping authorities establish reception and accommodation centres.
Cash assistance for the most vulnerable Liubov, 80, fled her village outside Kyiv and crossed the border into Poland with nothing but a small bag of documents. She is now living with her daughter in a tiny studio apartment in Warsaw. Liubov has used UNHCR’s cash assistance to pay for her medical expenses, including crutches to help her walk. The cash assistance program has been expanded to other cities in Poland, with the aim of helping 450,000 refugees meet their immediate needs.
A ride to safety Karina and eight-month-old Jacqueline are among the many refugees transferring from border nations such as Poland or Moldova to other countries in Europe, where friends or family are waiting to take them in. UNHCR is helping authorities provide transport and giving refugees information on seeking asylum. Karina is travelling with her friend Diana, and Diana’s three-year-old daughter, Marie. They used to live together in Kherson, southern Ukraine, as their husbands are sailors and work away from home for long periods of time. They left home when they began running out of food and medicine, and are now on their way to live with Diana’s mother and grandmother in Italy.
Emergency aid for a besieged city The city of Sumy in north-eastern Ukraine is among the worst affected by the war, and one of the hardest to reach. Last month, UNHCR delivered the first supply of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, to besieged Ukrainians who have been cut off from supplies for weeks. More than seven million people are internally displaced in Ukraine, while another 13 million are stranded in hard-to-reach areas. UNHCR is delivering emergency supplies wherever possible, providing cash assistance, helping reception centres stock up on core relief items, and distributing shelter kits to help families repair their damaged homes.
The kindness of strangers Rymma and Ruslan have turned a former storage facility into a hostel for people fleeing the war in western Ukraine. The hostel is near the Slovak border and can accommodate up to 80 people at a time. UNHCR has provided thermal blankets so this compassionate couple can keep their guests comfortable during the cold nights. “We share everything we have with them,” said Rymma. “We’ve managed to provide some home comforts, hot water, even found money for a boiler.” Donate now to provide life-saving aid for the people of Ukraine. Your gift can provide warm blankets for people sheltering in subways, deliver food to families cut off from supplies, or support counselling for children separated from their families.
