UN Refugee Agency Halts Aid to Ukrainians
Political
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has scaled back assistance for displaced persons from Ukraine. This decision was made due to the suspension of U.S. support and a decline in donor contributions.
“We were forced to suspend some programs that had previously been implemented with generous support from the U.S.,” said a UNHCR representative. These include psychosocial assistance (provided to around 280,000 people in Ukraine), the supply of construction materials for temporary shelters, and cash aid.
UNHCR is the largest humanitarian supplier of such materials and has helped 450,000 people since Russia's invasion began.
In 2024, 40% of UNHCR’s funding came from the United States. In addition, several Western donors redirected their efforts toward defense programs.
For 2025, the agency requested $3.32 billion (2.91 billion euros) to support 8.2 million people in Ukraine. However, only 25% of that amount has been raised so far. “We had to reduce the number of individuals we prioritize for aid,” said Billing.
Since January, after heavy shelling, approximately 7,700 people passed through UNHCR transit centers in Pavlohrad and Sumy, where they received clothing, hygiene kits, legal, and psychosocial support. “They arrive with almost nothing and are deeply traumatized,” she added.
According to the agency, from August 2024 to March, over 200,000 people were evacuated from front-line areas in Ukraine. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that civilian casualties in March were 70% higher than in the same month last year.
“UNHCR and our partners have the capacity and potential to work effectively—if the necessary funding is provided,” the agency’s statement concluded.
UNHCR is the largest humanitarian supplier of such materials and has helped 450,000 people since Russia's invasion began.
In 2024, 40% of UNHCR’s funding came from the United States. In addition, several Western donors redirected their efforts toward defense programs.
For 2025, the agency requested $3.32 billion (2.91 billion euros) to support 8.2 million people in Ukraine. However, only 25% of that amount has been raised so far. “We had to reduce the number of individuals we prioritize for aid,” said Billing.
Since January, after heavy shelling, approximately 7,700 people passed through UNHCR transit centers in Pavlohrad and Sumy, where they received clothing, hygiene kits, legal, and psychosocial support. “They arrive with almost nothing and are deeply traumatized,” she added.
According to the agency, from August 2024 to March, over 200,000 people were evacuated from front-line areas in Ukraine. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that civilian casualties in March were 70% higher than in the same month last year.
“UNHCR and our partners have the capacity and potential to work effectively—if the necessary funding is provided,” the agency’s statement concluded.
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