You Can Support Those in Crisis Fleeing Ukraine

Dear Supporter,

Two years since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, we are reminded of the incredible resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people. We are especially in awe of the youth whose work at the forefront of rebuilding their communities has been buoyed by the generous support of people like you. 

Since February 2022, at least 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, living as refugees in neighboring countries or internally displaced within Ukraine. There have been over 30,000 casualties with at least 600 accounts in January 2024, alone.  

The impact of Russia’s aggression extends beyond displacement and casualty, where 14.6 million Ukrainians – 40% of the country’s population – live in dire need of humanitarian assistance. One-third of Ukrainian households have reported at least one member experiencing mental health problems, and another 10 million people are at risk of acute stress conditions. Education has been disrupted, opportunities are scarce, and the psychological impact of the war is profound, especially on young people.  

Despite these challenges, women and young people are taking on new roles in Ukranian society as volunteers and first responders. But their leadership is still not fully recognized, and they lack robust support to participate meaningfully in decision-making. 

That’s where ActionAid comes in. 

Over the past two years, ActionAid has partnered with nearly 40 women, minority, and youth-led organizations across Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova, supporting over 2 million people.

One of our partner organizations, STAN, works with internally displaced Ukrainian youth. They seek to equip young people with the tools to cope with their trauma and make their voices heard in decision-makng spaces. 

Yuliya, an education coordinator with STAN (pictured above), talks about the importance of prioritizing the psychosocial needs of over-looked groups, like women and young people. She shares: 

“Young people are rarely heard, by adults, by people who have power. What we are doing is important. The interests of women, young people, and vulnerable groups can be denied by programs. All programs that are reconstructing infrastructure, buildings, and cities, should go together with social programs and connect people. It’s not only the physical buildings that were destroyed, but social contacts [relationships, support groups] were destroyed too.” 

Past support from people like you has helped our local partners continue to provide members of marginalized groups with the resources they need to restore their physical and mental well-being as they endure this crisis. 

The ongoing importance of this work inspires us to continue doing what we do. Two years later, our commitment to the people of Ukraine remains. We will continue working with affected communities in need of support and protection, so that they can lead more dignified lives amidst crisis. 

Thank you for being a part of our ActionAid community.