As the three-year anniversary of the Ukraine war approaches, Ukraine is experiencing one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with 6.8 million people having fled the country and 3.6 million internally displaced since February 2022. Over 80 per cent having been on the move for more than a year and in need of assistance to maintain their livelihoods. However, the suspension of US foreign aid is having severe humanitarian consequences.
Ukraine faces a deepening economic crisis, with over 9 million people living in poverty. The loss of stable incomes, destruction of agricultural and industrial infrastructure, and widespread small business closures have deepened the hardship. Targeted attacks on energy infrastructure have further crippled essential services, disrupting healthcare, water, sanitation, and heating. The most vulnerable such as the elderly, chronically ill and people with disabilities are particularly at risk.
The suspension of US foreign aid has had significant global and local repercussions, restricting the ability of non-profit organisations like Action Against Hunger to provide life-saving aid and assistance. In Ukraine, this has forced Action Against Hunger to halt cash distributions to families displaced near the front lines.
Ionut Raita, Country Director of Action Against Hunger in Ukraine, said:
“These families are extremely vulnerable and cannot currently be supported. Psychosocial support for displaced children and young people who have been traumatised by the conflict and are living in collective shelters has also had to stop. They have asked us to continue, we have received calls to continue, but we have had to stop. It is heartbreaking. They need us, they need our help.”
Millions of Ukrainians are in urgent need, with the World Health Organisation estimating that 10 million may face mental health disorders in the short to medium term. Many have lost loved ones or homes, and the psychological impact will be felt on Ukraine’s fragile healthcare system for decades. In 2023, Action Against Hunger provided mental health support to 12,457 people and continues to prioritise mental health care for children and young people affected by trauma.
About our work in Ukraine
Action against Hunger has been active in Ukraine since March 2022. In the Dnipro, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, we provide support in the vital areas of health, mental health and psychosocial care, water, hygiene and sanitation, as well as food security and livelihoods. In 2023, 675,364 people were supported by our programmes.
Since summer 2024, Action Against Hunger has focused its programmes on the eastern part of the country with ongoing operations in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which are managed by a coordination office in Kyiv and field offices in Dnipro and Kharkiv.
Notes to editors
Spokespeople available upon request. Please contact [email protected].