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5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE



The full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, and has displaced
millions of Ukrainian families in the country and across the region, triggering
the biggest and fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World
War. A year later, more than 8 million people have fled from Ukraine into
neighboring countries and an estimated 6 million Ukrainians are internally
displaced. As the war continues, it is crucial to understand what is happening
on the ground and how you can help. A year later, here are five things you need
to know about the ongoing war and the situation in Ukraine.

1. WHEN DID THE WAR IN UKRAINE BEGIN?



The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022 following the Russian Federation’s
large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The situation in Ukraine rapidly deteriorated
as fighting, heavy shelling, missile and rocket attacks occurred in several
regions throughout the country. The death, devastation and destruction inside
Ukraine have been staggering—forcing millions of Ukrainians to flee and
uprooting a third of the entire population.

The war in Ukraine comes on the heels of almost eight years of active fighting
in Ukraine which has profoundly impacted the lives of millions of people. At
least 2.9 million people living in the conflict-affected regions of eastern
Ukraine were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the war began.
The ongoing war has only deepened humanitarian needs in the frontline regions of
the country.

2. WHO IS IMPACTED BY THE ONGOING WAR IN UKRAINE?



Ukraine has a total population of 41.4 million people. In the first year of the
war, one-third of the entire population of Ukraine has been uprooted—forced to
flee their homes to safer areas in Ukraine, neighboring countries in Europe or
abroad. At least 17.6 million people in Ukraine—including IDPs, returnees and
Ukrainians who remained home throughout the war—are in need of multisectoral
humanitarian assistance in 2023.

As the war continues to evolve, humanitarian needs are multiplying and
spreading. People in Ukraine face targeted attacks and shelling on civilian and
other energy infrastructure, resulting in the tragic loss of life and exacting a
cruel toll on the population during winter. They are unable to meet basic needs
and have difficulties accessing water, electricity, heating, healthcare,
education and social protection. Many Ukrainians are living in damaged homes or
in buildings ill-prepared for life-threatening freezing temperatures.

Particularly vulnerable groups include older people and people with disabilities
who may be unable to flee from high-risk areas. Women and children, who make up
approximately 90 percent of people fleeing the war, are at grave risk of
gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse.

3. WHO IS FLEEING UKRAINE AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING?



Since the war began a year ago, more than 8 million people have fled Ukraine and
crossed borders into neighboring countries in the region including Poland,
Hungary, Moldova and other countries across Europe. Poland has seen the largest
influx of Ukrainian refugees, hosting nearly 60 percent of all refugees from
Ukraine.

The majority of the people fleeing Ukraine are women and children who account
for approximately 90 percent of refugees. Women face significant challenges and
are at the greatest risk for sexual exploitation and abuse, human trafficking
and forced prostitution. Given the high protection risks, UNHCR staff are in
neighboring countries carrying out regular protection monitoring at border
crossing points and transit centers to assess protection risks.

The war in Ukraine has generated an unparalleled outpouring of global solidarity
and support. As the war and displacement continue, and until refugees can safely
return home, Ukrainian refugees must be assured of adequate protection, access
to education and self-reliance.



4. HOW IS THE WAR IN UKRAINE IMPACTING THE REST OF THE WORLD?



Beyond the direct impacts the war is having in Ukraine and on its neighbors, the
war has also caused ripple effects across the world. Ukraine supplies a
significant portion of the world’s agricultural commodities including wheat,
barley, corn and sunflower. As the war in Ukraine continues, it is causing
supply chain disruptions globally and increasing the price of food, fuel and
other commodities.

Displaced people living in already vulnerable situations are at risk of
gender-based violence and other forms of abuse. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency,
saw an unprecedented $700 million funding gap in the first year of the war in
Ukraine, placing great strain on operations in Uganda, the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Sudan, Iraq, Ethiopia and other countries in dire need of support.

5. WHAT IS UNHCR, THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY, DOING TO HELP?



UNHCR has been working in Ukraine since 1994, alongside local authorities,
partners and community organizations to deliver protection and humanitarian
assistance to people in need and remains on the ground to help now.

As the war continues, UNHCR and its partners are on the ground providing
critical humanitarian assistance and protection. In Ukraine, UNHCR is expanding
operations further east and south to hard-to-reach areas, delivering cash and
in-kind assistance to Ukrainians, delivering emergency shelter repair kits to
those with damaged homes, carrying out housing repairs and providing legal
support and psychological counseling.

UNHCR and UNICEF have partnered together to establish 39 Blue Dots across eight
different countries—one-stop safe spaces equipped to provide information,
counseling, mental health and psychosocial support, legal aid and protection
services for refugees.

While the full impact of the war is not yet clear, people continue to flee and
there remains large-scale displacement in and out of the country. UNHCR has
reinforced its operations in Ukraine and in neighboring countries, sending more
resources and staff. UNHCR is working with national authorities to identify and
support people forced to flee within Ukraine and scaling up response in
neighboring countries currently receiving refugees.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?



A year since the war in Ukraine began, one-third of Ukraine’s population has
already been displaced. As the war continues and humanitarian needs grow—your
compassionate support is needed to help provide emergency supplies, lifesaving
care and protection to families who are fleeing for their lives. You will help
children, women and men displaced by violence in Ukraine know they are not alone
at the most devastating moment of their lives. Make a compassionate donation
today.

Feb 22 2023
TOPICS News Ukraine Crisis 101
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