This section features humanitarian responses to an increasing number of people on the move inside and outside of Ukraine after the Russian Federation's military invasion in Ukraine in February 2022.
Last updated on 5 January 2023
International Humanitarian Responses
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine has deteriorated rapidly following the launch of the Russian Federation military invasion on 24 February 2022, resulting in mass movement of the civilian population throughout the country and to neighbouring countries. Prior to the Russian Federation invasion, some 2.9 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected areas in Ukraine (OCHA, 2022). As of 24 August 2022, almost 18 million people (40% of Ukraine's population) are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance (OCHA, 2022b). More than 7.4 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded across Europe between 24 February and 22 September 2022 (UNHCR, 2022). An estimated 6.9 million persons are internally displaced within Ukraine, as of 23 August 2022 (IOM, 2022).
In response to situation in Ukraine and beyond, the United Nations has launched two coordinated emergency appeals calling for 1.7 billion USD (United Nations, 2022). Within the country, 1.1 billion USD will be needed to respond to the escalating humanitarian situation of more than six million people affected and displaced by military operations over the next three months. Outside of Ukraine, 551 USD million will support Ukrainians who have fled the country, mainly to neighbouring countries (Ibid.)
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is one of the largest humanitarian actors in Ukraine with seven offices inside the country and permanent staff and office presence in all neighboring countries, works closely with partner agencies to reach internally displaced persons, refugees, third-country nationals (TCNs) and the communities hosting them (IOM, 2022b).
Source: IOM's Youtube Channel, 2022. IOM support at a border crossing in Slovakia.
The private sector also supports humanitarian relief efforts financially and through collaborations with international and local organizations, e.g. on 08 March 2022 the UN’s migration agency IOM and Airbnb.org have announced their PARTNERSHIP TO CONNECT PEOPLE FLEEING FROM UKRAINE TO FREE, SHORT-TERM HOUSING in Poland, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.
Especially, private initiatives and volunteers have played a key role in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries. MEDIA REPORTS daily of aid initiatives by volunteers, NGOS and municipalities on the ground who are supporting people arriving from Ukraine, offering them accommodation, food and transport.
Ukraine Governance │ Crisis and Emergency Response
The Ukrainian State Emergency Response Plan[1] defines assistance measures to the population. Ukraine's Civil Protection Code[2], which regulates crises such as environmental emergencies, armed conflict, or mass revolt, outlines evacuation and other measures to protect civilians in any crisis. Under this Code, foreigners and stateless persons residing in Ukraine on legal grounds, however, enjoy the same rights as the citizens of Ukraine in times of crisis. Learn more about about migration governance in Ukraine with IOM's Migration Governance Indicators (MGI).
Ukraine Governance │ Communication in Crisis
The Ukrainian Decree 'On approval of the Instruction for the organisation of the notification on the threat of emergence or occurrence of emergencies and communication in the field of civil protection[3], guides the operations of an automated centralised system to notify the public in case of a threat or occurrence of emergencies, the system relays communication through telecommunications networks and television networks among other communication channels.
The Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an Anti-Crisis Centre, which is tasked with ensuring prompt response to crises and emergencies that pose real or potential threats to the safety, life and health of Ukrainian citizens abroad, as well as cases of our citizens in difficulty caused by gross violations of their rights on the territory of foreign states. One of the main functions of the Anti-Crisis Centre is to ensure the functioning of the "hotline" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (receiving appeals about victims, providing advisory assistance to citizens of Ukraine in real-time on actions in case of crisis). Visit the Portal Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) section to learn more about migration governance in Ukraine.
[1] Сabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Decree 'On approval of the State Emergency Response Plan' - "Про затвердження Плану реагування на надзвичайні ситуації державного рівня", 14 March 2018, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/223-2018-%D0%BF#Text
[2] Law of Ukraine, 'Civil Protection Code of Ukraine' -- "Кодекс цивільного захисту України", 2 October 2012, http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5403-17
[3] Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Decree 'On approval of the Instruction for the organization of the notification on threat of emergence or occurence of emergencies and communication in the field of civil protection' -- "Про затвердження Положення про організацію оповіщення про загрозу виникнення або виникнення надзвичайних ситуацій та зв’язку у сфері цивільного захисту", 27 September 2017, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/733-2017-%D0%BF#Text
