UN and partners provided vital aid to 11 million people in war-ravaged Ukraine in 2023

According to Denise Brown, assistance to people in communities close to the front line was one of the priorities for the humanitarian community in 2023, including through 107 inter-agency convoys that delivered much-needed supplies to families whose lives have been devastated by the war. “Entire communities along the front line are being pummeled daily, leaving millions with little to no capacity to provide for themselves, and dependent on humanitarian assistance. I visited nearly 30 of these war-torn villages and towns last year and could see how Russia’s invasion continues to cause massive destruction and decimate essential services for them,” explained Ms Brown.

Over the last months of 2023, the UN and its humanitarian partners stepped up efforts to provide critical supplies and services to ensure families can keep warm and safe during Ukraine’s bitter winter, when temperatures can drop to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. In total, nearly 1.7 million people were reached with solid fuel to ensure heating in areas without power, gas or water, as well as winter clothes, thermal blankets, and insulation of homes and centres hosting displaced people.

Throughout the year, humanitarians have also provided people in Ukraine with much-needed water and hygiene supplies, materials to repair homes, health or education services, food, cash and other services that included counselling, legal aid and even demining. “However, for another entire year, we were prevented from helping people in areas occupied by Russia, where humanitarian needs are direst and the response extremely limited,” regretted Ms Brown, adding that efforts will continue despite the repeated denial by Russian authorities.

The humanitarian response in Ukraine was possible thanks to the strong financial support from the international community and the efforts of almost 600 humanitarian organizations and their staff and volunteers across the country who are working to overcome tremendous challenges to reach people in need. “The close coordination with the authorities was also crucial and enabled our work,” added Denise Brown, who also noted that amongst other challenges, indiscriminate attacks destroyed over 55 aid facilities, killing at least 11 aid workers and injuring 35 in the line of duty in Ukraine in 2023.

The UN and partners will continue efforts to ensure the people of Ukraine will receive the same level of support in 2024. “To this end, funding will be crucial. The suffering of the Ukrainian people is not over, and our support is as necessary as ever,” concluded Denise Brown.

Note to Editors

• For detailed information on the humanitarian response, check OCHA’s latest Humanitarian Response and Funding Snapshot.

• Throughout the year, humanitarian organizations provided vital health services and supplies for 7.6 million people; water, sanitation and hygiene services for 6.8 million; food and livelihood support for 4.1 million; cash assistance for 3.9 million; materials for emergency repairs and critical household items, including winter supplies, for 4 million people; and support to continue education for 2.5 million children and teachers.

• Aid organizations also provided critical child protection services for 3 million children and care givers and other protection services — counselling, legal aid and awareness programmes – to about 2.2 million. Nearly 1.6 million people were reached with services to prevent gender-based violence and assist survivors, while mine action efforts reached 1.2 million people, mostly through mine awareness and risk education activities.