UN Refugee Agency requests $550 million for Ukrainians this year

This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing.

“This year, we are appealing for $550 million for these programs, which we call protection services, including free legal aid, housing, and collective centres, among others. 45% of that appeal has been funded so far, and we are more than mid-year,” she said.

Billing clarified that since the start of the full-scale invasion, UNHCR has allocated over $1.6 billion to support millions of Ukrainians with humanitarian assistance. Since 2022 alone, 2.2 million Ukrainians have received cash assistance, and the Agency has repaired more than 43,000 homes.

The UNHCR representative confirmed that over time, funding for humanitarian and recovery programs is decreasing, which is why the UN explains to countries why it is important not to cut expenditures now.

“We say to donors, 'Now is not the time to reduce and give up. Ukrainians want to stay in their own country. They want to remain here and build a future here. Please support them in this aspiration'”. Billing stressed.

As reported by Ukrinform, Billing stated that the number of people evacuated or displaced from frontline areas has increased since mid-2024.

Ukrinform photo available for purchase here.