Human cost of inaction is too high
Failure to sustain the humanitarian response will have catastrophic consequences for millions of Ukrainians. Vulnerable groups – children, women, older people and those with disabilities – will face heightened risks and their needs are expected only to grow. Without adequate funding, critical assistance, including shelter, food, health care and mental health support, will not reach those in need. This will aggravate suffering, push families into desperation and jeopardize the survival and dignity of war-affected communities. Without sustained support, the crisis will deepen and communities’ ability to recover will be severely hampered.
What if fail to sustain the response?
Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM)
Nearly 79,000 internally displaced people living in 1,800 collective sites across Ukraine will lack access to safe, dignified living conditions. Essential services, including site management and winter support, will remain out of reach for the most vulnerable families.
Education
At least 830,000 children and teachers, including 771,000 students and 58,000 educators, will lose access to safe and inclusive education services. The ongoing disruption will severely impact the mental health, learning outcomes and future opportunities of children affected by the war.
Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL)
An estimated 2.3 million people, including 1.8 million needing emergency food assistance and 1.7 million requiring livelihood support, are at risk of facing food insecurity. Without adequate humanitarian support, families in front-line regions will adopt negative coping strategies, worsening their long-term prospects for recovery and self-reliance.
Health
Without sustained funding, 3.3 million people will not have access to critical health services, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases, mental health crises and life-threatening conditions. Those in front-line areas and displaced people, including pregnant women, children and people with disabilities, will face significant health risks, exacerbated by continued attacks impacting health-care services, facilities and assets.
Protection Overall
If protection services falter, some 3.8 million internally displaced and non-displaced war-affected people, particularly those in the most vulnerable conditions, would see their rights violated. Dwindling resources would threaten the access of people at heightened risk to rights and public services, including people with disabilities and older people, especially near the front line, in urban and rural areas receiving the internally displaced or affected by attacks, and in and outside of collective sites. It will result in the exacerbation of the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable and deepen the barriers for marginalized groups to access needed support in an inclusive and safe manner.
Child Protection
Over 3.5 million children are at risk of physical harm, exploitation and psychosocial trauma. Without intervention, critical child protection services will fail to reach 2.1 million children and caregivers, leaving them exposed to family separation, violence and long-term trauma. The absence of mental health and psychosocial support will hinder their recovery and development.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Approximately 2.41 million people, predominantly women and girls, are in need of GBV services. Without adequate humanitarian support in 2025, 710,000 vulnerable people, including 340,000 internally displaced people and 370,000 non-displaced war-affected people, will not receive GBV prevention and response assistance to address risks such
as intimate partner violence, sexual violence and exploitation. Survivors of GBV, including women and girls, will be unable to access essential medical care, psychosocial support and protection services, further compounding their vulnerabilities and risk.
Mine Action
Over 5.4 million people reside in areas heavily contaminated with explosive ordnance. Without Mine Action efforts, they will continue to face the daily threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, restricting access to farmland, homes and vital services. Failure to act will exacerbate casualties and prevent the recovery of 28,000 square kilometres of agricultural land, and at least 1.4 million people will not be able
to receive assistance through demining and risk education activities.
Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI)
Approximately 3 million people, including displaced and non-displaced people, will endure unsafe and inadequate living conditions due to ongoing attacks and increased hostilities in communities near the front line. Many will face exposure to harsh winter conditions without essential housing and essential household items.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Failure to maintain WASH services will leave 4.4 million people, including those in front-line areas, without access to clean water, adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities. This will increase the spread of waterborne diseases, worsen public health and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as low-income families, older people and people with limited mobility.
What is required?
1. Joint Action Now:
Immediate, coordinated humanitarian efforts to address the life-saving needs of the most vulnerable war-affected people in Ukraine.
2. Flexible Funding in 2025:
Ensuring timely, adaptable response to evolving needs.
3. Improved Humanitarian Access:
Reaching those in the hardest-hit and most affected regions near the front line