The UN aid director affirmed that the UN stands with the Ukrainian people for a long time
In a joint appeal from Kiev, the head of the United Nations emergency relief agency Tom Fletcher And Filippo GrandiThe United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said millions of civilians in Ukraine and abroad depend on the support of the international community amid ongoing Russian attacks.
“The Ukrainian people have shown incredible courage over the years and we must respond by demonstrating real, genuine and sustained international engagement,” Mr. Fletcher said. We must respond with all our hearts.” “We will be here with the Ukrainian people for as long as necessary to meet these needs and support them…We must not forget the Ukrainians in the occupied territories whose needs are so great . And we must continue to be creative and courageous in getting our support to those who need it most.”
Millions of people are in need
The appeal is designed to support vital support for around six million people in Ukraine – where overall need is more than double that number – and abroad, where there are more than 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees live.
About $2.62 billion is earmarked for domestic response teams, while UNHCR has requested $690 million in 2025 and $1.2 billion in 2025-2026 to support governments hosting refugees in 11 countries.
“Of course, the goal is not to ensure that these people remain refugees forever,” said Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. “The purpose is to facilitate the return of these people to Ukraine. This is what Ukraine needs and this is what the majority of refugees want.”
Bomb every day
Speaking to journalists during his sixth visit to Ukraine, the head of the refugee agency emphasized the ongoing impact of bombings on the front lines, day after day. He said communities there continued to suffer devastation and deprivation in the cold of winter.
“Here, Kiev is a big city, but when you go to a small town, you see how the people’s lives are completely devastated; Most people had to leave their homes.
“Very few people have access to heating in cold weather… The Russian Federation’s targeting of energy infrastructure, which of course directly affects civilian life, is something that must stop .”
Matthias Schmale, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, emphasized that national NGO partners and the United Nations continue to provide aid and evacuate the most vulnerable individuals, regardless where access allows: “Certainly, a large portion of the need is on the front lines,” he said.
“We are providing special support to those who have chosen to stay close to the frontline and among them, especially people with disabilities and the elderly who have difficulty moving.”
