Ukraine Humanitarian Fund Annual Report 2022

2022 in Review

HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine deteriorated drastically and rapidly in 2022, after Russia’s invasion escalated eight years of conflict in the east into a full-scale war. Throughout the year, intense hostilities caused immense human suffering, death and injury to thousands, displaced millions of people from their homes, separated families and destroyed jobs and livelihoods.

By the end of 2022, almost half of the people remaining in the country required humanitarian assistance and protection. The number of people in need of assistance increased from approximately 3 million people in January to 18 million by December.

The invasions led to horrific violations against civilians, with thousands killed, injured, or maimed, including hundreds of children. From 24 February to December 2022, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified reports of over 7,000 people killed— of whom almost 440 were children—and over 11,600 people injured, including over 850 children. The actual number, however, is likely much higher as the collection and verification of information from several locations affected by hostilities remains severely hindered.

Massive internal and external displacement

The war has caused the world’s fastest growing displacement since World War II. In the first few months after the invasion, nearly 8 million people were internally displaced in Ukraine. The same number of people fled across borders, leaving behind their families, homes, belongings and jobs.Since then, the displacement crisis has only continued. Although almost 5.5 million people returned to their places of origin throughout the year, thousands more continued to flee from the east. By the end of 2022, some 5.5 million Ukrainians were internally displaced, while 8 million became refugees in Europe.

Increasing vulnerabilities due to harsh winter

The already alarming situation deteriorated in the last quarter of the year, with waves of massive attacks against energy infrastructure further disrupting public services, including water, electricity, heating, health care, education and social protection. The serious energy crisis took place at the beginning of a harsh winter, with freezing temperatures bringing new dimensions to the humanitarian crisis and worsening pre-existing needs.

Massive destruction of civilian infrastructure during winter months of November to February 2023, exacerbated the situation and made life extremely difficult for millions of people and severely disrupted critical services. Relentless attacks hitting energy systems, schools and hospitals, homes and businesses barred children’s access to schools, made hospitals inoperable, disrupted access to water, and interrupted livelihoods.