NRC in Ukraine

Humanitarian overview

Eight years of conflict in the east of Ukraine escalated into a full-scale war on 24 February 2022, causing death, destruction and displacement for millions of people across the country. Some 14.6 million people (about 40 per cent of the population) are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024, including 3.6 million internally displaced people and 11 million people who have returned or remained home. About 11 million people received humanitarian assistance in 2023.

Throughout 2023, escalating hostilities and strikes on civilian infrastructure exacerbated already dire humanitarian conditions. While indiscriminate attacks continued in different regions of Ukraine, the south was struck by the Kakhovka Dam breach on 6 June 2023, causing flooding and the displacement of thousands of people in the area, and leaving many regions without access to clean drinking water. Homes, schools and hospitals continue to be targeted, alongside obstruction of legal transit in Ukrainian waters and strikes on ports and grain infrastructure. The termination of the Black Sea Initiative by Russia in July further impacted farmers already struggling due to mine and explosive remnants of war contamination, particularly in areas where agriculture is a vital means of survival.

The most vulnerable people are still in need of safe housing, protection services and livelihoods support among other needs. Displaced people in rural areas are also struggling to access services.  Many of those in need of assistance live in areas beyond the control of the Ukrainian government, where the response is limited due to access constraints.

NRC’s operation

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been present in Ukraine since 2014. Since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, we have been continuously scaling up our response across the country and working with national partners to reach displaced people and others affected by the war.

Education

The programme helps children and youth affected by war and displacement with access to quality, safe and inclusive learning, and participation. In addition to ensuring the Better Learning Programme contributes to the wellbeing of children and teachers, we also rehabilitate damaged schools and support partners in engaging youth in activities within communities.

In 2023, NRC supported 29,844 students and teachers with access to quality, safe and inclusive learning opportunities relevant to their psychosocial, emotional and cognitive development and needs.

Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA)

In 2023, we provided information, counselling and legal assistance, directly and through partners, on IDP registration, legal identity, housing, land and property, employment law and procedures and access to essential services to 47,750 internally displaced and conflict-affected people in Ukraine.

We also delivered capacity building and operational support to key stakeholders, to strengthen the institutional legal protection response. We launched Kobli, a digital platform, to facilitate access to legal information. We conducted advocacy efforts to promote the rights of internally displaced people (IDPs) and we chaired the housing, land and property technical working group.

Livelihoods and food security

In 2023, NRC assisted 61,463 people with food and livelihoods support, by providing hot meals, food kits, and vouchers to meet immediate needs, while working with local authorities to improve the employability of internally displaced and conflict-affected people. We provided 130,045 people with multi-purpose cash assistance to cover emergency basic needs.

Protection from violence

Our protection and site management activities are focused on supporting individuals and communities against protection risks in communities and collective sites, and enhancing their safety and resilience. In 2023, we reached 10,325 people under the protection programme.

Shelter and settlements

In 2023, we provided emergency shelter kits and vouchers for construction and household products. We assisted in small to medium repairs of houses damaged by hostilities and provided rental assistance to 54,283 people.

Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH)

Some 263,337 individuals benefited from improved access to water and sanitation in 2023.

Advocacy

We advocate to ensure that the war-affected communities inside Ukraine have safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, services and solutions to repair their lives, houses and businesses. Through crucial communication on humanitarian assistance, we contribute to ensuring the right to information for displaced people and others affected by the war.

NRC in Ukraine is dedicated to enhancing the national legal framework to protect the rights of internally displaced people (IDPs) and those affected by conflict, while also creating a supportive legal environment for humanitarian operations. NRC in Ukraine actively promotes durable solutions that offer long-term stability and recovery for displaced individuals, ensuring they have access to essential services, rights, and opportunities for sustainably rebuilding their lives. NRC constantly advocates for principled, flexible humanitarian financing to enable rapid support to first responders and local initiatives, aiming to mitigate the conflict's impact and support sustainable recovery.

Partners

NRC is collaborating with relevant national and local government bodies. NRC coordinates with regional and local authorities in Ukraine and has MoUs with regional administrations and with local authorities at the hromada (municipality) level in the regions in which NRC operates. NRC is working with national and local organisations to support programme implementation, including Right to Protection, Angels of Salvation, Youth Platform, Center for Social Partnerships “Perspective”, Helping to Leave, Peaceful Heaven of Kharkiv, Stabilization Support Services, Lampa and Way of Ukraine.