Ukraine

Vast areas of the country and some of its essential infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed by air strikes and ground fighting. The human consequences have been considerable, with many casualties, injuries and millions of people forced to flee.    

The advance of the Russian army has led to massive population movements, with up to 5.9 million people displaced within Ukraine and 7.9 million refugees outside the country by September 2022.  

In 2023, although the war persists, the front line is now stable and displacements have fallen considerably. At the same time, a large number of returns have been recorded since the Ukrainian counter-offensive of 2022, particularly from the west to the east of the country and especially in the Kharkiv Oblast, which has seen the greatest demographic fluctuation.  

In this evolving context, needs are changing and it is therefore necessary to adapt humanitarian assistance to ensure that it remains as relevant as possible. With fewer displaced people, part of the budget previously devoted to their assistance is being redirected towards providing more assistance to villages close to conflict zones. This reorientation makes it possible to provide both emergency and rehabilitation assistance, for example by rehabilitating damaged or ageing structures, with the aim of creating conditions conducive to a dignified return for people who have been displaced.   

At present, the Ukrainian population is particularly vulnerable to winter conditions, due to the climate and the severely damaged or even destroyed energy infrastructure in the regions close to the front line. The main request for assistance concerns preparing the population to cope with the rigours of winter.