With an average of 42 civilians killed and injured per day, recent months have been particularly deadly. The group, made up of local and international organisations working in the country, calls for the immediate protection of civilians and reminds Member States of the promises made to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Ukrainian population.
Over 87% of those killed, or 9,241 people, are victims of explosive weapons, with many life-altering injuries, including the loss of a limb or eyesight. This figure is considered to be far below reality, as the United Nations continues to corroborate the numbers. Meanwhile, residents of Ukraine who are far from the front lines also need assistance to rebuild their lives and recover.
“My daughter is now growing up in the basement,” explains Sviatlana. She and her 7-year-old daughter decided to stay in Kherson, a region experiencing heavy shelling. “The longest we went without electricity in the dark was a month and a half, so now when there’s an outage, I try to joke with my daughter, ‘What’s one more day? We’ve already been through much worse.’ Now, all we can do is wait and survive. She’s just a child and wants to play outside on the playground, but she can’t leave the basement.”
Two years of repeated fighting have destroyed lives, homes, and livelihoods, leaving 14.6 million people, including nearly 3 million children, in desperate need of humanitarian aid across Ukraine. Nearly 80% of those in need also require mental health support. The poverty level in Ukraine has increased fivefold—24% compared to 5%—in 2022 alone.
Due to ongoing violence, approximately 4 million people remain displaced within Ukraine, and over 5.9 million have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries. While 67% of internally displaced persons say they want to return home one day, many cannot because the war has destroyed their communities and livelihoods. Many displaced individuals struggle to integrate into their new communities, where finding employment and housing is difficult. Women account for 58% of internally displaced persons and are more likely than men to experience unemployment and rely on humanitarian aid.
Vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected by the ongoing war. Existing inequalities, particularly those faced by children, Roma people, LGBTQ2S+ persons, older adults, and persons with disabilities, are only worsening over time, with the cumulative effects of the crisis leading to specific needs.
Joanna Garbalinska, Director of the Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine, stated: “The war continues, and life is far from normal. Civilians live daily under the threat of missiles and shells, which continue to strike populated civilian areas, causing death and destruction in regions both near and far from the front lines.
“The Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine calls for all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure to cease immediately, particularly in densely populated urban areas, as they may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. Civilians must always be protected from violence.
Today marks a grim milestone in the war in Ukraine. As the conflict enters its third year since escalation, humanitarian agencies in Ukraine remind Member States of the promises made to address this crisis. Today, humanitarian aid is more necessary than ever. Long-term funding commitments for humanitarian and recovery efforts are essential for the safety of civilians and the future of Ukraine.”
SIGNATORIES:
NGO Signatories
“БО “”МБФ “”Руки друзів””// Friends’ Hands
ACTED
Action Against Hunger (ACF)
ActionAid
ГО “АЛЬЯНС.ГЛОБАЛ” // ALLIANCE.GLOBAL, Public Organization
arche noVa
CARE
Caritas Ukraine
Caritas Zaporizhzhia
Corus International
CUAMM – Doctors with Africa
Danish Refugee Council
Estonian Refugee Council
ГРОМАДСЬКА ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ “ЕДКЕМП УКРАЇНА” // Public Organization “EDCAMP UKRAINE”
FHI 360
Fida International Ukraine
Finn Church Aid
Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation
Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International (HI)
International Rescue Committee
INTERSOS
La Chaîne de L’Espoir
Lutheran World FederationMAG (Mines Advisory Group)
Medair
Médecins du Monde International Network
Medical Teams International
Mercy Corps
Nonviolent Peaceforce
Norwegian Refugee Council
Oxfam
People in Need
Plan International
Premiere Urgence Internationale
Right to Protection
Save the Children
Solidarités international
Stichting Vluchteling (The Netherlands Refugee Foundation)
Terre des Hommes
Паросток// Parostok
UK-Med Ukraine
Ukrainian Red Cross Society
Welthungerhilfe
World Vision International
ZDOROVI
ГО “Дівчата”// NGO “Girls”
ГО «ГІ Допоможемо Разом» //NGO “Will Help Together”
Єдність чеснот//NGO “Unity of Virtue”