Martin Griffiths, head of UN aid, highlighted the dire situation, particularly for children living on the front lines, who are traumatized and deprived of basic needs. This plea for increased humanitarian aid is a response to their plight.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 14.6 million people in Ukraine, or 40% of the population, require humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing conflict initiated by the Russian Federation. Of these, over 3.3 million people in need are situated in front-line areas in the east and south, including regions occupied by Russia, where access remains challenging.
OCHA's appeal includes $3.1 billion aimed at assisting 8.5 million individuals in critical need of humanitarian aid within Ukraine in 2024. Additionally, the UN Refugee Agency is requesting $1.1 billion to support 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees and their host communities.
The Russian invasion, starting in February 2022, led to approximately 6.3 million people seeking refuge abroad. Currently, around 4 million people, including nearly one million children, are internally displaced within Ukraine.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, emphasized the ongoing need for support, stating that many refugees remain vulnerable and should not be compelled to return due to financial hardships in exile.
In a broader context, the UN's appeal for $46 billion in 2024 addresses global humanitarian crises, with the Ukrainian situation creating the fastest and one of the largest displacement crises since World War II. The Russian invasion has led to an unprecedented displacement of 16.9 million people, the highest ever recorded for any country.
In response to the crisis, the European Commission in December allocated over 65 million euros from the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund to assist Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania in hosting people fleeing the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
