Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 1, 2025 Humanitarian aid
The full-scale war in Ukraine has presented international humanitarian organizations with an unprecedented challenge. In the first months of the conflict, millions of people were provided with food and cash payments, shelter, and medical care. However, a new UN report reveals that these impressive figures conceal gaps, and the system itself requires updating.
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee Evaluation Group report, prepared with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), analyses the work of organizations involved in the humanitarian operation from 2022 to 2024.
According to the report, the Ukrainian experience shows that standard aid models designed for countries with weakened institutions are not suitable for countries with functioning governments and active civil societies.
Millions needed urgent help
Following Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, the UN humanitarian system was activated the very next day. In a short period of time, large-scale deliveries of food, water, and essential supplies were quickly deployed, along with emergency support.
The World Food Programme became the largest operator of cash transfers and simultaneously continued food deliveries, gradually transitioning to cash-based formats as markets recovered. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) established a network of children's and family centers in Spilno and supported displaced families. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provided legal assistance, shelter, and financial support to those left homeless and affected by the war.
Lessons for the future
The report's authors emphasize that emergency assistance was provided promptly, but not always to those who needed it most. In the first months, there was a lack of accurate data on the most vulnerable groups—the elderly, people with disabilities, and members of ethnic minorities.
Millions of people received assistance and protection, but efforts did not always meet long-term priorities.
A separate chapter of the report is devoted to the role of Ukrainian non-governmental organizations. Many of them have extensive experience working in crises, but at the beginning of the war, they were effectively relegated to the background: they were used primarily as contractors for aid delivery, with little consideration given to their views in planning operations.
Shortcomings in coordination were also identified: there was not always mutual understanding between UN clusters, and the transition to restoring and integrating cash assistance into the social protection system was slow.
Restart the system
The so-called "humanitarian reset"—a process of reconsidering approaches to aid delivery—is currently underway. The report's authors call for a focus on local partners, more active involvement of Ukrainian agencies in the management of operations, and the development of a common strategy for transitioning from emergency support to sustainable recovery.
The document emphasizes the importance of not only distributing aid but also investing in long-term sustainability—restoring agriculture, integrating cash support into state social assistance systems, and creating jobs.
The numbers speak for themselves
According to the UN, 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees remained outside the country in 2024, with another 3.6 million people unable to return home within the country. In 2025, 12.7 million Ukrainians needed assistance, but due to funding cuts, the humanitarian plan had to be scaled back to support only 4.8 million of the most vulnerable.
While the UN emergency plan was nearly 90 percent funded in 2022, by 2025 donors had only covered about 70 percent of the needs. This resulted in a reduction in the scale of operations, and an increasing burden on the remaining humanitarian structures.
Lessons learned
The report emphasizes that Ukraine's experience should serve as a lesson for all humanitarian operations worldwide. Where state institutions and civil society are functioning, international aid should be more flexible, rely on local resources, and provide a clear path from crisis support to recovery and development.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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