After nearly three years of devastating warfare, the conflict in Ukraine has not only claimed thousands of lives but also fractured families, inflicted significant psychological trauma, and wreaked havoc on the nation's economy and infrastructure. Local citizens, such as Valentyna Zavadska, 64, are among those affected, as she faces the ruins of her home near Mykolaiv, which fell victim to artillery strikes back in March 2022. Fortunately, Zavadska was able to receive assistance from local NGOs partnered with UNHCR, enabling her to renovate adjoining structures to provide shelter for her and others.
The crisis pushed over 200,000 individuals to flee Eastern Ukraine just within the last six months, significantly increasing the strain on humanitarian efforts. According to UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, around 10.6 million Ukrainians have been displaced since the onset of the war—about one-quarter of the nation’s pre-war population. Of these, approximately 3.7 million are internally displaced within Ukraine, with another 6.9 million seeking refuge across other countries.
The overwhelming destruction has left more than two million homes damaged or destroyed—representing 10% of the total housing stock. Ongoing assaults on energy infrastructure plunged countless citizens back to darkness and cold, exacerbated by already strained local services. Vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly and disabled, find themselves facing even greater hardships as they struggle to access the life-saving assistance they so desperately need.
Nearly three years of conflict have taken a toll on the nation's mental health. The constant threat from war, the trauma of separation from loved ones, and the challenges of daily life have cumulatively caused significant psychological distress. About 1.5 million children are estimated to be at risk for enduring trauma, and 12.7 million individuals, or one-third of the current population, currently require humanitarian assistance.
Economically, the war has decimated agricultural and industrial hubs in Eastern Ukraine, leading to nearly 30% of jobs from before the war being lost. Addressing these issues—stated by refugees as barriers to returning home—demands urgent collective action from the international community.
Over the past three years, UNHCR has provided life-saving assistance to millions of affected individuals, collaborating closely with the Ukrainian government, NGOs, and local partners to respond to new assaults and displacements. Their efforts include offering warm shelters, psychological first aid, and cash support for basic needs. Together with other UN aid workers, they have extended help to 800,000 individuals living in hard-to-reach frontline communities.
Despite these efforts, securing necessary funding remains a constant struggle, and the present uncertainty means those hardest hit—internally displaced persons and war-affected families—may soon see their access to life-saving aid diminished just when they need it most. Therefore, support from various donors remains pivotal to ensuring UNHCR can continue providing necessary humanitarian aid, shelter, and safety.
Throughout the past three years, Ukraine’s neighboring countries have demonstrated compassion and dedication by hosting refugees eager to rebuild their lives. Interestingly, about 60% of Ukrainians abroad express intentions to return home one day, though only 5% plan to do so imminently, as they prefer to wait for improved safety, housing conditions, and economic opportunities.
International backing for both refugees and their host communities is now more important than ever to sustain hope. UNHCR and its partners are committed to delivering effective and sustainable humanitarian assistance to reach those most in need. The time to abandon the people of Ukraine is not now; their resilience needs to be fortified with unwavering support.