UN calls for EUR 1.5 billion for months of humanitarian aid

To urgently provide humanitarian aid to people in Ukraine and to refugees abroad, the UN and its partner organisations are calling for a funding of EUR 1.5 billion.
The UN stated in a press release earlier this week, 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than four million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighbouring countries in the coming months.
UN humanitarian aid coordinator Martin Griffiths stated: «Families with small children are hunkered down in basements and subway stations or running for their lives to the terrifying sound of explosions and wailing sirens. Casualty numbers are rising fast. This is the darkest hour for the people of Ukraine. We need to ramp up our response now to protect the lives and dignity of ordinary Ukrainians. We must respond with compassion and solidarity.»
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For people inside Ukraine the programme is intended for initial three months. The programme would include multipurpose cash assistance for the most vulnerable people, food assistance, water and sanitation, support to health care and education services, and shelter assistance to rebuild damaged homes. The plan also aims to deliver support to authorities to maintain and establish transit and reception centres for displaced people and prevent gender-based violence.
Aid groups will need safe and unimpeded access to all conflict-affected areas according to the core humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence, Griffiths said.
With more than half a million refugees having fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries in the past five days alone, and many more expected, support is also required to meet the critical needs of those seeking protection outside the country. The safe neighbouring countries outside Ukraine with refugee influx are Poland, Slovakia, Moldova and Hungary, according to the UN press release.