As the Relentless War in Ukraine Grinds on, Humanitarian Partners Aim to Reach 4.1 Million People in 2026 [EN/UK]

UN and partners appeal for US$2.3 billion in 2026 to assist 4.1 million of the most vulnerable people in Ukraine

(Kyiv, 13 January 2025)—As the relentless war in Ukraine soon enters its fifth year, humanitarian organizations are launching the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (the “Plan”) to provide life-saving support, including food, health care, shelter, protection, cash assistance and other aid, to 4.1 million of the most vulnerable people in 2026.

Overall, an estimated 10.8 million people across Ukraine will require humanitarian assistance this year, including internally displaced and war-affected non-displaced people. To help them, humanitarian partners ask for US$2.3 billion.

Front-line areas and northern border regions continue to face the highest humanitarian needs due to intensified shelling, destruction of civilian infrastructure and persistent disruptions to essential services. Repeated missile and drone strikes across the country continue to cause civilian casualties, damage homes and drive new displacement.

People living in territories occupied by the Russian Federation remain largely cut off from essential services and protection systems, facing serious rights violations and insecurity, while humanitarian access remains extremely limited.

“Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis has been driven by relentless attacks—from the full-scale invasion in 2022 to the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023 to more recent massive strikes on civilian infrastructure,” said Matthias Schmale, Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine. “Today, we face yet another critical turning point: widespread disruptions to power and heating during extreme winter conditions are creating a crisis within a crisis and pushing people’s ability to cope to the breaking point. As the nature of this war continues to shift, humanitarian action must adapt—responding to new risks and intensifying needs. We must do the best we can to ensure that Ukraine’s most vulnerable can endure with as much dignity as possible.”

The 2026 Plan focuses on four areas to address the most urgent needs of the most vulnerable people in critical situations: people living near the front line; those forced to flee in search of safety; people whose homes are damaged or who have lost access to basic services after strikes; and vulnerable people, including internally displaced people, at risk of falling into the cracks of social protection support system.

Humanitarian partners are determined to respond quickly as the situation shifts—whether it’s new attacks, waves of forced displacement or seasonal hardships, such as disrupted basic services after attacks on energy during the freezing winter.

Humanitarian assistance is delivered, while maintaining close dialogue with the Government of Ukraine, complementing national systems and supporting government-led evacuation efforts. National and local organizations, alongside international partners, play a central role in the response, often the first to act in the most difficult and dangerous conditions.

The US$2.3 billion required for 2026 reflects the scale of prioritized needs and the realities of delivering life-saving assistance in a high-risk environment amid shrinking humanitarian resources.

“We appeal to the international community, member states, other donors and people everywhere to maintain their solidarity with the most vulnerable people in Ukraine,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator. “We hope support continues for the work we do for the people in Ukraine.”

Note to editors: The Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is coordinated by OCHA on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team and partners. It outlines priority humanitarian needs and the collective response to assist people most affected by the war in Ukraine.

Resources

• Ukraine Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), digital version
• Ukraine Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, Ukr, digital version
• 2026 HNRP (Eng, Ukr), HNRP Summary (Eng, Ukr)

For further information, please contact: Viktoriia Andriievska, OCHA: +380 50 419 6323, viktoriia.andriievska@un.org