About the crisis

Eastern Ukraine has been the scene of an armed conflict that has gone largely unnoticed by the wider world. The conflict in Ukraine is now in its fourth year and continues to claim lives and trigger widespread humanitarian needs. Some 3.8 million people in Ukraine are currently in need of humanitarian assistance – an increase of 700,000 people compared to 2016.

The humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine remains heavily underfunded. More than 70 per cent of the 3.8 million people in humanitarian need either live with disabilities, are chronically ill or live in elderly and female-headed households. Access to services for civilians is extremely limited. The ability of aid organisations to provide humanitarian assistance is limited by both security issues and access constraints.

The Dutch Relief Alliance Response

The four member organisations participating in the Ukraine Joint Response operate in eastern Ukraine to address the needs of displaced populations. The collaboration has so far achieved the following results:

• More than 25,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have received Shelter and Non-Food Items such as clothes, bedding and heating items. Multipurpose cash grants were used in this sector for renovations, utility bills and rent support.
• More than 20,000 people have received Food Security assistance in the form of food packages and multipurpose cash grants.
• More than 19,000 people have received protection services such as psychosocial support and consultations by mobile medical teams.
• More than 5,000 people received unconditional cash grants to enable them to purchase items specific to family needs.