Ukraine

Population 
44,1 million
Number of refugees 
6,8 million
Number of IDPs 
7 million
Rank in Human Development Index 
74 / 189

Activities in 2022


Since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine, about a third of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes. In world terms, this means the largest displacement of people at the moment. About 7 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine. An estimated 13 million remain in temporarily occupied territories due to hostilities in eastern Ukraine, unwilling or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, destruction of bridges and roads, and lack of resources or information.

In March, we started distributing multi-purpose cash assistance (MPC) in Ukraine, being the first internationally and subsequently one of the largest providers of MPC, reaching also temporarily occupied areas. Cash-based aid is a quick, cost-effective, and dignified measure that allows people in areas where markets function to decide what they use the aid for. Foodstuffs, drinking water, medicines, hygiene items, and the money used to pay for temporary living space have mainly been purchased with support. We have also distributed sleeping bags, generators, food aid, etc., in different regions based on need.

What are we doing now?

  • We distribute multi-purpose cash assistance. We have supported 46,706 households (over 140,000 people, as of 29.08.2022). We have mediated monetary support for more than 23.7 million euros (Estonian donor support + WFP + OCHA + IRC). The allowance is 2220 UAH (= about 59 EUR according to the new exchange rate) per household member in one month.
  • We have opened a separate application platform for applying for cash-based support in Ukraine: https://register.pagulasabi.ee/.
  • Our on-site call center in Ukraine receives about 50-300,000 calls daily. It can serve about 1,500 people a day, advising and sharing information about support options and pre-selection into our cash-based program and referring people to other programs if necessary.
  • We have supported hospitals in Eastern Ukraine with medical supplies, equipment, food, generators, and other necessities.
  • We have distributed 2,900 blankets, 4,600 sleeping bags, and other essentials to people in bomb shelters and IDP accommodations.
  • We are part of the Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI), within which we help the humanitarian aid sector keep a constant overview of where and how the markets are functioning in Ukraine, whether and how fast the prices of essential commodities are rising, etc. Our area of ​​responsibility is Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv Oblasts. Read the latest report covering June 2022.
  • In cooperation with Kyiv Volunteers and ONUKY, we carry out a food distribution program in areas where there is a need for food aid. One food package that meets international standards is enough for two weeks.

You, too, can help people affected by the war in Ukraine by donating.

Activities since 2014


Estonian Refugee Council started supporting the population affected by the war in Ukraine at the end of 2014 when it launched the donation campaign "For Ukraine!". Our activities in Ukraine have changed according to how the conflict there and the needs of the people have changed. At the end of 2014, we started distributing medical, hygiene, and food packages to internally displaced persons and in front-line settlements in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Later, medical aid projects were added, within the framework of which we delivered necessary medicines, medical equipment, and equipment to hospitals. In 2015 and 2016, summer camps for internally displaced children and children with special needs were held on Khortitsa Island, Zaporizhzhia. In the same years, we sent 11 volunteer specialists from Estonia to Ukraine.

Due to the changing needs, in the fall of 2016, we started a new phase in our aid program, starting to support internally displaced people in Eastern Ukraine and residents of front-line settlements by creating and expanding small businesses to guarantee them a sustainable income. According to the needs, we have also consistently supported, for example, the elderly living near the front-line with food and hygiene supplies, school children with school supplies, and the most vulnerable households with financial support to survive the winter.

Projects

The project responds to the need to scale up multisectoral response through the use of multipurpose cash to address the humanitarian needs of affected people in a holistic manner. This is done by providing internally displaced persons (IDP) with multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) for the next 3 months (May 2022 - August 2022). The assistance is targeted at Central Ukraine: Poltavska, Cherkaska, and Kirovohradska oblasts. 

Provide timely life-saving multi-sectoral assistance to displaced and non-displaced persons, who are affected by the escalation of hostilities. This is done by providing war-affected populations, esp. those living in worst affected regions and internally displaced persons (IDP), multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) for the next 3 months (April 2022 - June 2022) in Zaporizhzhya and Donetsk oblasts, where our operational network is the strongest.

Provide timely life-saving multi-sectoral assistance to displaced and non-displaced persons, who are affected by the escalation of hostilities. Provide war-affected population with short-term access to General Food Assistance (GFA) through provision of multi-purpose cash assistance.

Target beneficiary are 60 500 individuals (girls and boys, women and men) who are forced to flee from active conflict to safer locations and those who stay in their locations under attack.

 

The goal of this project is to support vulnerable women living in settlements near the contact line or as internally displaced people in eastern Ukraine in reaching sustainable livelihoods. This is done through organizing open entrepreneurship workshops and two extensive entrepreneurship and mentorship programmes aimed at providing and improving practical skills and developing business plans.

Kaasava videoprojekti käigus loovad pagulasnoored riikides, kus Eesti Pagulasabi humanitaarabi pakub (Liibanon, Jordaania, Ukraina, Gruusia, Keenia + Eestis elav pagulastaustaga noor), videopäevikuid etteantud teemadel (minu elukoht, minu kogukond, minu haridustee jne). Lisaks on neil võimalus tulla välja oma kogukonnaprojektiga, mis aitab lahendada mõnda kohalikku, mida saavad lisaks ekspertidele nõu ja jõuga toetada ka vlogide jälgijad. Projekt tõstab Eesti vaatajate teadlikkust sihtriikides toimuvast ning tekitab otsekontakti osalejate ja jälgijate vahel.

Projekti raames toetatakse vajaduspõhiselt Ida-Ukraina relvakonflikti tõttu kannatanud lapsi koolitarvete ja kooliks valmistumise toetustega, haavatavatesse gruppidesse kuuluvaid kontaktjoone lähedal elavaid leibkondi talveks ettevalmistumise toetuste ja kevadel põllumajanduslike toetustega ning rindelähedastes asulates elavaid vanureid vajalike hügieenitarvikutega. Tegevused viiakse ellu koostöös kohalike omavalitsuste ja sotsiaaltöötajatega.

Projekti eesmärk on rindelähedastes asulates elavate ja sisepõgenikest haavatavas olukorras naiste iseseisva jätkusuutliku toimetuleku toetamine Ida-Ukraina oblastites. Seda tehakse läbi mahuka virtuaalse ettevõtlusprogrammi läbiviimise 300 osalejale, mis on suunatud praktiliste oskuste omandamisele ja äriideede arendamisele ning mille järel saavad 20 parimad naiskonda äriplaanide elluviimiseks tingimuslikku rahalist toetust.

Projekti raames toetatakse vajaduspõhiselt Ida-Ukraina relvakonflikti tõttu kannatanud lapsi koolitarvete ja kooliks valmistumise toetustega, haavatavatesse gruppidesse kuuluvaid kontaktjoone lähedal elavaid leibkondi talveks ettevalmistumise toetustega, rinde lähedal elavaid kroonilisi haigeid vajalike meditsiinitarvikutega ning rindelähedastes asulates elavaid vanureid vajalike hügieenitarvikutega. Tegevused viiakse ellu koostöös kohalike omavalitsuste ja sotsiaaltöötajatega.

Eesti Pagulasabi andis sügis-talvel 2019/2020 koos oma kohapealsete partneritega Ida-Ukrainas humanitaarabi sõjast kannatanud elanikkonnale. Abivajavatele gruppidele anti sügis-talvel kolme tüüpi humanitaarabi: koolitarvikute jagamine lastele, hügieenipakkide jagamine rinde lähedal elavatele eakatele ning talveks valmistumise toetuste jagamine haavatavatele leibkondadele rindelähedastes asulates.

Kokku jõuti 1037 inimeseni Donetski ja Luhanski oblastites, kellest 504 olid täiskasvanud (120 mehed, 384 naised) ning 533 lapsed.

Projekti eesmärk on haavatavatesse gruppidesse kuuluvate naiste iseseisva jätkusuutliku toimetuleku toetamine Donetski ja Zaporižžja oblastites. Seda tehakse läbi tekstiili- ja käsitöövaldkonnale keskenduva makeathoni läbiviimise, mis on suunatud praktiliste oskuste omandamisele/täiendamisele ja äriideede arendamisele ning mille järel saavad osalevad naiskonnad ideede elluviimiseks tingimuslikku rahalist toetust. Toetustele ja makeathoni sündmusele järgneb pooleaastane mentorlusprogramm, mis tagab ideede ja tegevuste jätkusuutlikku elluviimise.

Projekti eesmärk on aidata Ida-Ukraina elanikke ja sisepõgenikke läbi konfliktitsoonile lähedal asuvate haiglate meditsiiniabiga toetamise. Projekti eesmärgi täitmiseks edastatakse vajalikku meditsiinitehnikat, -vahendeid ja ravimeid valitud Donetski oblasti haiglatele. Haiglate vajadused on tehtud kindlaks Eesti Pagulasabi kohapealsete töötajate poolt, kes viivad läbi ka abi toimetamise haiglatele. Projekt on osa Eesti Pagulasabi laiemast Ukraina humanitaarabi programmist “Ukraina heaks!”, mis algas 2014. aasta oktoobris.

Eesti Pagulasabi lähetab Ukrainasse, Zaporižžja oblastisse 6 vabatahtlikku psühholoogi ja sotsiaaltöötajat tööks sisepõgenikega, eeskätt lastega. Vabatahtlikud erialaspetsialistid töötavad koos kohapealse partnerorganisatsiooniga ning nende töö keskmes on kohalike psühholoogide ja organisatsiooni abistamine.

Projekti rahastab Välisministeerium arengukoostöö ja humanitaarabi vahenditest 27075 euroga.