Introduction
The war in Ukraine has spiralled into a fully-fledged humanitarian catastrophe.
The ongoing war endangers the lives of civilians and causes severe damage to housing, water and electricity supply, heating, and public infrastructure such as schools and health facilities. Millions of people have no access to basic needs.
The EU has mobilised all possible resources to enable emergency assistance into Ukraine.
In February 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world, forcing millions of people to leave their homes.
The majority of those fleeing Ukraine were women and children.
Currently, about 5.3 million people are believed to be internally displaced. Meanwhile, many others are still stranded in affected areas, either unwilling or unable to leave due to military action.
Due to heavy fighting and attacks on civilians, an estimated 17.6 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2023.
Needs inside the country
The worst situation is currently seen in eastern Ukraine, especially along the frontlines, and in southern Ukraine.
Russia’s war on Ukraine has provoked serious humanitarian challenges. Ensuring safe access to humanitarian organisations is essential to deliver relief items and enable safe evacuations from areas under attack.
Millions of people do not have access to basic services, including water, electricity and heating, while food supplies are running low. During the freezing winter months, the provision of winterised shelter is essential.
The war has provoked significant protection challenges as civilians are exposed to shelling, armed violence, mines, family separation, looting or eviction, and human trafficking.
The safety risks for women and girls are extremely worrying, as well as the situation of the most vulnerable groups (children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and LGBTIQ+ people). It is estimated that 3.6 million people, primarily women and girls, require prevention and response services to gender-based violence.
Continuous attacks also give rise to large mental health care needs, affecting up to 25% of the population. These include stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The international community is extremely concerned about the violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes. The EU is committed to support Ukraine in holding the perpetrators accountable.
How are we helping?
The EU’s largest civil protection operation to date
To provide emergency assistance to Ukrainians, the European Commission is coordinating its largest ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
All 27 EU countries, plus Norway, Türkiye, North Macedonia, Iceland, and Serbia, have offered in-kind assistance ranging from medical supplies and shelter items to vehicles and energy equipment.
The EU has established logistical hubs in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to channel the items to Ukraine more efficiently. To date, more than 89,000 tonnes of aid has been delivered.
Given the immense need for emergency equipment in Ukraine, the EU has deployed assistance from its rescEU medical stockpiles, including:
- power generators
- medical equipment
- temporary shelter units
- specialised equipment for public health risks such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
Also, the EU is coordinating medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients in urgent need of treatment, transferring them to hospitals across Europe to receive specialised care. In September 2022, the EU opened a hub Rzeszów, Poland, to facilitate these medical evacuations. The EU Medevac Hub offers treatment to patients arriving from Ukraine before they are flown out to a hospital in another European country.
In April 2023, Ukraine joined the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as a participating state. Established in 2001, the Mechanism aims to strengthen the cooperation between the EU Member States and 9 participating states on civil protection to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters.
EU humanitarian aid in Ukraine
Since February 2022, the European Commission has allocated €733 million for humanitarian aid programmes to help civilians affected by the war in Ukraine. This includes:
- €685 million for Ukraine
- €48 million for refugees that have fled to neighbouring Moldova.
For Ukraine, the EU has mobilised €485 million in humanitarian assistance for 2022 and €200 million in 2023.
EU humanitarian funding is helping people inside Ukraine by providing them with (i) food, (ii) water, (iii) essential household items, (iv) health care, including mental health and psychosocial support (v) psychosocial support, (vi) emergency and winterised shelter, (vii) protection, including education in emergencies, and (viii) cash assistance to help cover their basic needs.
Our partners are present across the country and mobilising assistance on the ground.
Close to 16 million people have received humanitarian support in Ukraine thanks to the EU and other donors:
- more than 12.2 million people have received food assistance
- 9.4 million have benefitted from health interventions or supplies
- 6 million people from cashassistance
- 7.4 million people from critical protection services.
In addition, almost 7.4 million people regained access to clean water and have received critical hygiene and sanitation services.
From darkness to light: how Ukrainian children find comfort and safety in shelters
Feeling safe and being social are crucial for children, especially in times of war. In Slavutych, a town in northern Ukraine, kindergarten children will have access to a bomb shelter that has been restored and equipped by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), ensuring their safety.
Present in the country since 2014
The EU has been delivering humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since February 2014.
EU humanitarian offices in Ukraine play a key role in facilitating humanitarian coordination and information sharing among various organisations, including donors, authorities and humanitarian partners.
EU-funded humanitarian assistance is provided in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. It is delivered through the UN humanitarian agencies, non-governmental organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Timeline
- 20 April 2023Ukraine joins the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
On 21 April, Ukraine became a participating state of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism – the European solidarity framework that helps countries overwhelmed by a disaster.
- 20 April 2023The EU tops up its humanitarian aid to Ukraine with €55 million
This new humanitarian funding will notably focus on preparing for next winter to ensure an extra layer of protection to those in need.
- 3 February 2023New humanitarian funding €145 million for Ukraine
During the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv, the EU mobilised further €145 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
- 19 October 2022EU announces new rescEU reseve to provide emergency shelter to displaced Ukrainians
The EU has developed a new rescEU shelter reserve. It will be put into immediate use in Rivne, Bucha and Kharkiv regions to provide temporary shelter to internally displaced persons.
- 19 October 2022The EU announces additional €150 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine and €25 million for Moldova
The key priority is to provide winterised shelter in view of the expected freezing temperatures. Other priorities include education in emergencies, health, and protection assistance.
This brings the total humanitarian funding for Ukraine to €485 and Moldova to €38 million.
- 1 September 2022New EU Medevac hub in Rzeszów, Poland
The EU Medevac hub, financed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, offers 24/7 nursing care, screening for diseases, vaccination and mental health support before patients are transferred to another European country. The medical evacuation scheme includes 2 medevac flights a week offered by Norway.
- 30 August 2022EU donates 5 million potassium iodide tablets to protect Ukrainians from potential radiation exposure
The EU will provide 5.5 million potassium iodide tablets via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for Ukraine, including 5 million from the rescEU emergency reserves and 500,000 from Austria.
This will bring the total of tablets delivered to Ukraine to 8.5 million, including the 3 million procured by the rescEU reserve with the help of France and Spain in April.
- 9 June 2022The EU announces additional €205 million in humanitarian aid
During a visit to Ukraine, Commissioner Lenarčič announces new humanitarian funding bringing the total EU humanitarian aid in response to the war in Ukraine to €348 million.
- 19 April 2022Additional €50 million in humanitarian aid
The EU allocates a further €50 million to support the people affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine, with €45 million for humanitarian projects in Ukraine and €5 million for Moldova.
- 12 April 2022European Humanitarian Response Capacity
A humanitarian operation in Moldova sets up a warehouse in Chisinau for humanitarian partners and the delivery of over EU-owned 1,200 tents and 4,000 blankets for people displaced by the conflict. Another humanitarian warehouse is being set up in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.
- 29 March 2022New channel for private donations to Ukraine created by the European Commission
In kind donations will supply vital items such as medicines, vaccines, medical equipment, tents, beds and emergency blankets through this extension of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
- 13 March 2022EU's first medical evacuation operation in Ukraine crisis
The EU coordinated its first medical evacuation in the Ukraine crisis, helping to transfer 3 chronically ill Ukrainian children with their relatives from Poland to Italy.
- 11 March 2022Czechia activates the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Czechia requests assistance due to large influx of refugees, in the form of emergency temporary shelters, accommodations items, and camp manager experts.
- 4 March 2022Establishing EU logistics hubs and mobilising rescEU reserves
The EU mobilises further assistance via the rescEU medical stockpiles based in Germany, Hungary and the Netherlands.
Logistical hubs have been established in Poland, with others being set up in Romania and Slovakia, to distribute required aid to Ukraine as quickly as possible.
Team of EU experts in Poland
EU Civil Protection Team is operational on the ground in Poland, helping to coordinate the incoming aid as efficiently as possible.
- 2 March 2022More emergency assistance and Commissioner visits Poland
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, visit Poland to assess the situation on the ground and coordination needs for providing protection to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
- 28 February 2022€90 million in EU humanitarian funding for Ukraine
European Commission announces its first humanitarian aid funding of €90 million in response to the full-scale war to help civilians affected.
- 25 – 28 February 2022Slovakia, Moldova and Poland request assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Slovakia, Moldova and Poland request to better cope with the refugee inflows from Ukraine.
- 15 February 2022Ukraine requests assistance due to the threat of further escalation
Following a request from the Government of Ukraine for emergency assistance before the invasion, the EU started delivering essential supplies via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to support the civilian population.
