Ukraine: Humanitarian Coordinator allocates $20 million to support local organizations and volunteer groups at the forefront of the humanitarian response

“These groups have always been the backbone of the humanitarian response in Ukraine and even more since the war started in late February. They are in the front line, taking risks to make sure people whose lives have been torn apart by months of war receive support for their daily needs: water, food, medicines, shelter when their houses have been damaged,” explained Denise Brown.

The humanitarian community in Ukraine has had several meetings with these groups in different parts of the country. “The work they are doing is impressive. However, 10 months later, their resources are being exhausted and they need support to sustain their vital assistance to the people of Ukraine,” said Denise Brown.

With this new disbursement, OCHA-managed humanitarian funds will have allocated over $252 million for life-saving operations in Ukraine since the Russian Federation’s invasion started on 24 February, including $192 million from the UHF and $60 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). More than $55 million has been channelled to projects and organizations supporting hospitals, displacement centres and other critical facilities with generators and people with winter supplies, as Ukraine faces a severe energy crisis in the middle of the winter. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our donors. We thank them, on behalf of the humanitarian community and the people of Ukraine,” concluded Denise Brown.

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Note to editors:

• The OCHA-managed Ukraine Humanitarian Fund is the largest of the world’s 20 active Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs), which are established when a new emergency occurs or when an existing humanitarian situation deteriorates.
• Between 2019 and February 2022, the UHF allocated $24 million to 26 partners implementing 64 projects in the east of Ukraine, to support at least 1.25 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
• Since February, and with this new announcement, the fund has allocated nearly $192 million to support 109 projects of 56 partners including, 30 international NGOs, 18 national NGOs and 8 UN agencies. Some $44 million of the total allocations were channeled directly to national organizations.
• Also since February, the UHF has expanded its partners’ base, increasing the number of eligible partners from 51 pre-war to 93 today, including 35 national NGOs.

For further information, please contact OCHA Ukraine:

Saviano Abreu, +380 50 422 3943, deabreuisidoro@un.org

 OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int.