PRESS RELEASE
(Kyiv, 17 January 2025) – Humanitarian needs in Ukraine remain critical as the war continues to impact civilians across the country. In 2025, an estimated 12.7 million people who face acute challenges, including those displaced from their homes, require humanitarian assistance. The highest concentration of people in need remains in the eastern, northern and southern regions of Ukraine.
To address these urgent needs, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and humanitarian partners, launched the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) on 16 January in Kyiv.
Building on this momentum, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine has today announced the launch of the First Standard Allocation of US$70 million from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) to support activities outlined in the 2025 HNRP.
This funding will enable comprehensive, needs-driven multisectoral assistance to newly displaced people, returnees and people living in front-line communities and parts of the country affected by ongoing hostilities. The allocation prioritizes assistance for the most vulnerable people in areas with the highest severity of need.
Specifically, the allocation focuses on:
- Support such as shelter and immediate assistance for newly displaced people fleeing front-line areas.
- Assistance for civilians in front-line areas, including health services, food, water and protection.
- Capacity strengthening for smaller Ukrainian organizations, including Women’s Rights Organizations, Organizations of People with Disabilities, and groups representing marginalized communities, including Roma and LGBTIQ+.
The UHF’s allocation underscores its commitment to partnerships with Ukrainian organizations and volunteer groups. These local actors are crucial in delivering context-specific assistance, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
“Three years after the escalation of the war, the challenges faced by people in Ukraine are immense, and ongoing hostilities continue to displace families and cause widespread destruction. This $70 million allocation demonstrates our commitment to delivering timely and impactful humanitarian assistance. We remain focused on supporting the most vulnerable people and strengthening local capacities to respond effectively, for which the UHF is a critical tool,” said Matthias Schmale, Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine
All eligible partners are invited to apply.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Adedeji Ademigbuji, OCHA Ukraine, adedeji.ademigbuji@un.org, +380 (50) 341 07 98
About the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF): The UHF is a pooled funding mechanism managed by OCHA, designed to provide rapid and flexible financing to address the most pressing humanitarian needs. The fund has been instrumental in mobilizing and disbursing resources to support life-saving interventions across Ukraine, particularly in areas experiencing the highest levels of conflict. In 2024, the UHF remained the largest country-based pooled fund in the world, with nearly US$232 million in donor contributions.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.