Ukraine: Humanitarian Response and Funding Snapshot (January - September 2023) [EN/UK]

SITUATION UPDATE

Fighting continued to take a heavy toll on civilians in areas close to the front line in September, while attacks on power infrastructure raised further concerns of another energy crisis during the winter months. Hostilities have further intensified in Donetska, Khersonska and Zaporizka oblasts, and the authorities announced mandatory evacuation of some front-line communities. With pockets of new displacement, attacks on populated areas have caused further destruction of homes, schools and hospitals along the entire front line. Also, ports on the Black Sea were hit almost daily in the first half of the month. In addition, several attacks hitting energy infrastructure impacted power supplies in at least 7 of Ukraine’s 24 oblasts and could worsen conditions with the onset of winter, which typically begins around October. Humanitarian partners appealed for US$435 million to deliver winter assistance to over 1.7 million people across Ukraine through March 2024.

Approximately 9 million people impacted by the war had received aid by the end of September 2023, an increase of 700,000 people from August. Over 60 per cent of them are women and girls and nearly 20 per cent children. Despite continuous efforts by partners to increase humanitarian support, some specific activities, particularly related to the provision of essential services in areas close to the front line have been limited by insecurity and access challenges. The delivery of aid to communities along the front line, however, has steadily increased throughout the year. Inter-agency convoys have been reaching communities where massive destruction has severely impacted livelihoods and services. Since the beginning of the year, over 90 convoys delivered relief items targeting close to 376,000 people in these areas hardest hit by the war. In September alone, aid was delivered to communities in Bakhmutskyi and Pokrovskyi Raions, Donestka Oblast, and Iziumskyi Raion in Kharkivska Oblast. In addition, voluntary and civil society organizations are providing assistance to many of these heavily impacted communities.

More than 500 humanitarian organizations are implementing activities under the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan in Ukraine. Of these, 324 are national NGOs. Funding against the plan has also increased, and now stands at 50 per cent of the total $3.9 billion requested for aid operations in Ukraine.

Humanitarian challenges persist, including increased insecurity and attacks directly impacting civilians, aid workers and aid delivery. In September alone, six humanitarian workers were killed, including five on duty, and six others were injured, bringing the total of humanitarian workers killed in 2023 to 10, including 7 in line of duty. While most of the incidents impacting humanitarian personnel and assets occurred close to the front line, attacks in populated centres across Ukraine still impede humanitarian efforts. In mid-September, an airstrike destroyed 300 tonnes of humanitarian aid at an NGO warehouse in Lviv.