Ukraine three years on: Sharp increase in basic needs along the frontline

The share of households reporting need of food and water assistance along the frontline has increased from 44 per cent in September 2024 to 70 per cent at the beginning of 2025, according to new NRC data. During the same period, the share reporting need of medicine has increased from 57 to 69 per cent.  

“After three years, the situation in areas that are heavily affected by the war is worse than ever. More and more people are struggling to provide food and medicine for their families in places where it is increasingly dangerous for humanitarians to work,” said Marit Glad, NRC Country Director in Ukraine. 

The lives of Ukrainians along the frontline are only getting more difficult. Constant shelling and attacks limit the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance, while posing a constant threat for those living there. Those living there are often elderly people, who accounted for nearly half of civilian deaths in frontline areas in 2024. At the same time, NRC is seeing a steady flow of displaced people returning to frontline areas from more stable parts of Ukraine as they struggle to cope with the pressure of displacement.  

“Life as an internally displaced person is hard,” Natalia told NRC. She returned from western Ukraine to her hometown, just 20 kilometres from the frontline. “It was difficult to find places to stay in as an internally displaced person, and rents were high. It was also hard to find a stable income. We all longed for home.” 

People who have been displaced for many months, or even years, are showing worrying signs of struggling to cope while away from home. After three years, many have little left to sell, and families and friends can no longer support one another. Almost 40 per cent of displaced people in Ukraine say they have exhausted almost all of their savings and are increasingly accumulating debt. For many, the only option available is to return to their homes – even if they are damaged and close to the frontlines. 

“Vulnerable displaced Ukrainians are forced to make agonising decisions - either stay far from home with diminishing aid, limited job prospects, and rising living costs, or return to the most intense conflict-affected areas where safety and essential services remain almost non-existent," said Glad. 

Humanitarian assistance represents a lifeline for those who are in urgent need of support, but this lifeline is now at risk, with increased uncertainty around US funding disrupting essential aid – especially in frontline areas.  

“We are extremely concerned with the prospect of reduced support for displaced and conflict-affected people in Ukraine. After three years, we should be working to help them rebuild their lives, not forcing them into a cycle of displacement and loss,” said Glad. “We need all donors to step up and ensure that people receive the assistance they need, in the place of their choosing.”  

Notes to editors: 

• NRC has been present in Ukraine since 2014, providing emergency assistance, shelter, and cash support to displaced communities and returnees. 

• The share of households in need of food and water assistance within 15 kilometres from frontlines has increased from 44 per cent in September 2024 to 70 per cent in early 2025, according to NRC data. During the same period, the share in need of medicine has increased from 57 to 69 per cent. This is based on data collected by NRC in January 2025 from 77,705 households living within 15 kilometres from frontlines in Ukraine, and in September 2024 from 116,029 households living within 15 kilometres from frontlines in Ukraine.  

• NRC data shows that almost 40 per cent of the internally displaced people surveyed say they have less than 5,000 UAH (around 120 USD) in savings left, while at the same time having accumulated between 1 and 500,000 UAH (roughly 1 and 12,000 USD) in debt. This is based on data collected in January 2025 from 191,794 households across Ukraine.  

• Although people over 60 make up only 25 per cent of the general population of Ukraine, older persons accounted for nearly half of civilian deaths and more than a third of injuries in frontline communities in 2024. (OHCHR) 

• As of January 2025, REACH estimated that around 1.6 million individuals have returned to areas within 30 kilometres of frontlines since February 2022, despite ongoing violence and insecurity. Despite the intensification of hostilities and the worsening security situation in areas along the frontline during the first half of 2024, the data suggest that people continued to return to these areas. (REACH) 

• The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan required USD 3.11bn in total funding to provide assistance to 14.6 million people in need. The plan received USD 2.29 bn in funding throughout the year, of which 30.8 per cent was provided by the US government. (OCHA) 

• Photos and B-roll free for use can be found here.  

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: 

• NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329 

• Zaynab Mayladan, Central and Eastern Europe regional media adviser: zaynab.mayladan@nrc.no, +961 70 755 976