Since February 2022, approximately 6.3 million people have fled Ukraine and are currently refugees, mostly in Europe. Within Ukraine, millions more are in need of humanitarian aid.

A recent wave of attacks by Russian forces has underscored the devastating cost of the war, while the tough winter is increasing the urgent need for life-saving aid.

Forced to spend their days in basements

In the cities and villages on the frontline, people have run out of resources and rely on aid to survive.

In the regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv, families seek shelter in damaged houses, without running water or gas or electricity.The constant bombings force people to spend their days in the basements. Children cannot play outside, nor can they attend school.

Hundreds of thousands of children living on the frontline are terrified, traumatized, and deprived of their basic needs

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is in charge of the humanitarian response in Ukraine. The Response Plan and the humanitarian need require $3.1 billion for 2024, destined for 8.5 million people.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which coordinates the Regional Response Plan for Refugees (RRP), requires $1.1 billion to help 2.3 million refugees and their host communities. In total, the two UN plans aim to support approximately 10.8 million people in Ukraine and the region.

"Hundreds of thousands of children live in communities that are on the frontline of war, they are terrified, traumatized, and deprived of their basic needs. This alone should compel us to do everything possible to deliver humanitarian assistance to Ukraine", said the Deputy General Secretary for humanitarian assistance and coordinator of emergency support, Martin Griffiths, who is also the head of OCHA.

"Homes, schools, and hospitals are repeatedly targeted, as are the supply systems of water, gas, and electricity. The social fabric of society is under attack with devastating consequences.

"Our response plan, implemented in cooperation with the national NGOs and volunteers, includes the entire range of assistance", he added.

Urgent need for support from neighboring countries

Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries need increased and prolonged assistance. Despite the efforts at inclusion and integration, only half of the school-aged refugee children are registered in the schools of the hosting countries, while a fourth of needy refugees have difficulty accessing health assistance.

Only between 40 and 60 percent of Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries have a job, often below their qualifications, and many remain vulnerable without means to support themselves.

"Even if their drama is no longer making headlines in the papers, millions of Ukrainian refugees still need urgent support," said the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

"The hosting countries continue to offer protection and to include them in their societies but many vulnerable refugees continue to need aid. They should not feel forced to return [to their country] because they cannot make it in exile.

"All refugees must be helped and must have the opportunity to use and develop their talents to prepare for a possible voluntary return to their country when the situation will allow it."