On Feb. 24, Russia’s military began a broad military assault on Ukraine, involving air and missile strikes in main cities, and invasion of ground troops. This latest attack is a significant escalation in a multi-year crisis stemming from 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and supported armed separatists in Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia.
Residents, including journalists and minority groups who fear persecution under a potential Russian occupation, are fleeing the country or leaving areas that are being bombed or at risk of further conflict. The border with Poland already has lines of potential refugees’ miles long.
Ukraine was already experiencing a humanitarian crisis in the east of the country. Although it will take a few days before we get a better understanding of the scale and extent of additional humanitarian needs from this rapid escalation and expansion of the conflict, we know that people forced from their homes need shelter, food, clean water and other basic necessities, particularly in the harsh winter climate.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fund will focus on addressing humanitarian needs that arise, particularly among the most vulnerable, marginalized and at-risk internally-displaced peoples (IDPs) and refugees.
The fund will focus on medium- and long-term recovery, ensuring access to basic services and strengthening the protection of those affected by the humanitarian crisis and COVID-19. This encompasses different sectors, including education, food, health, protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene.
(Photo credit: Maia Sandu, president of Moldova via Twitter)
