Stand behind Ukrainian independent journalism when it’s needed most. Help us reach 20,000 members.

Skip to content
Edit post

UN: Continued US aid required to support Ukrainian refugees

by Nate Ostiller February 20, 2024 3:42 PM 2 min read
Refugees from Ukraine stand on a platform at the Messebahnhof Laatzen station in Laatzen, Germany, after their arrival on April 15, 2023. Photo for illustrative purposes. (Michael Matthey/picture alliance via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Millions of Ukrainian refugees are still abroad or displaced within Ukraine, and the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Feb. 20 that U.S. funding is vital to maintain the UN's refugee support programs.

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated in January 2024 that some 14.6 million Ukrainians, approximately 40% of the population, need humanitarian assistance. This figure does not include the estimated 6.3 million Ukrainians forced to flee abroad.

The UNHCR released a report on Feb. 20 detailing the situation regarding Ukrainian refugees and appealed for $993 million to fund its support for those displaced by the full-scale war.

Around $600 million was requested to assist Ukrainian internally displaced people (IDPs) and the remaining funds for those abroad. The UNHCR said that only 13% of its support programs for Ukrainian refugees are currently funded.

"Unless timely funding is received, we may be forced to cut essential activities in Ukraine and in neighboring countries," the report said.

Philippe Leclerc, the UNHCR regional director for Europe, said in a briefing on Feb. 20 that some 30% of the UNHCR's funding comes from the U.S.

U.S. aid for Ukraine, including humanitarian assistance, has been at an impasse in Congress for months, largely over domestic political issues unrelated to Ukraine. The Senate passed a $95 billion funding package earlier in February that included $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, but U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far declined to bring it to a vote in the House.

"The U.S. State Department is supposed to get additional budget possibilities, including for the aid to Ukraine, which has not yet been voted by Congress. Obviously part of that support could possibly go to (the) UNHCR and other UN agencies to support refugees in Ukraine," Leclerc said.

The UNHCR report found that a majority of Ukrainian refugees abroad and IDPs still want to return home, but many are concerned about the insecure situation regarding the war, as well as "a lack of economic opportunities and housing."

More than half of Ukrainian refugees interviewed by the UNHCR who returned home said that "there were fewer job opportunities than they thought there would be."

The UN requested $4.2 billion in January 2024 to help Ukrainian refugees and IDPs.

6/10 Ukrainian refugees hope to return, study says
More than half of Ukrainians surveyed said they plan to return to Ukraine in the future, a 2023 study by Vox Ukraine released Jan. 16 says.

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

Our goal: reach 20,000 members to prove independent journalism can survive without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise. Will you help us do it?

Can we reach 20,000 members?

News Feed

11:51 PM

Trump 'very surprised, disappointed' at Russian attacks on Ukraine amid peace talks.

"I've gotten to see things I was very surprised at. Rockets being shot into cities like Kyiv during a negotiation that was maybe very close to ending," Trump said during a news conference in the Oval Office. "All of a sudden rockets got shot into a couple of cities and people died. I saw thing I was surprised at and I don't like being surprised, so I'm very disappointed in that way."
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.