A man receives humanitarian aid provided by the United Nations World Food Program and the charity ADRA to area residents and internally displaced people at the distribution center in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Friday, February 10, 2023.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
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Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
A man receives humanitarian aid provided by the United Nations World Food Program and the charity ADRA to area residents and internally displaced people at the distribution center in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Friday, February 10, 2023.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
GENEVA — The United Nations refugee and humanitarian aid agency said Wednesday it is seeking $5.6 billion to help millions of people in Ukraine and the countries that have hosted Ukrainians. fleeing after Russia invaded their country almost a year ago.
The bulk of the joint appeal — $3.9 billion — goes to the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which helps more than 11 million people by channeling money through more than 650 partner organizations.
Meanwhile, refugee agency UNHCR is seeking $1.7 billion to help some 4.2 million refugees who have fled to 10 host countries in Eastern and Central Europe.
The general appeal, one of the largest of its kind for a country, can attract large sums of money from Western countries, as a similar appeal has done since the war. begin. Such UN appeals are rarely fully funded.
“We were relatively well funded last year,” said Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. “I think the asylum call was over 70% funded – not all of it, but pretty well. We believe that will last.”
The call comes as a series of crises around the world have perpetuated the generosity of wealthy donors.
“Of course, this is not the only crisis in the world,” Grandi added. “There are many others who deserve it – I just got back from Ethiopia, Burundi. Who talks about Burundi? Sorry, but this is reality and people need support as much as anywhere else.”
The appeal from UNHCR does not include Russia. Its figures, drawn largely from figures provided by national governments, show that more than 2.8 million refugees from Ukraine have been received by Russia.
Grandi said Russia receives money for those refugees “from other sources” – including unallocated funds.
“We are ready to do more if it is necessary for any Ukrainian in need in Russia,” he said. “That offer is on the table and available.”
The United Nations says humanitarian groups helped nearly 16 million people in Ukraine last year, including in areas not controlled by the Kiev government. More than a third of those received cash assistance, which could help support the ravaged national economy.
