Since Russian armed forces entered Ukraine in February 2022, more than 6 million people have fled the country, leaving behind loved ones, livelihoods and almost everything they own.1 8 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine, and there have been at least 7,000 civilian casualties.
The majority of the refugees fleeing Ukraine are women and children, who face a heightened risk of gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation, trafficking and abuse.
Within Ukraine, the intense fighting has led humanitarian conditions to deteriorate. Infrastructure has been destroyed; authorities have warned of the potential outbreak of diseases due to unsanitary conditions.
Meanwhile, thanks to blockades of shipments and loss of harvests in Ukraine, the world is facing a food, energy and financial crisis. It is estimated that 50 million people are facing emergency levels of hunger in 2022.2
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DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal: how can I help?
Your gift to can help people in urgent need today.
What is ActionAid doing to help?
Since the outbreak of the war, ActionAid and other DEC charities have been working with local partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, providing immediate support including food, hygiene items and services to prevent exploitation and gender-based violence.
As the crisis develops, our partners are providing ongoing care to thousands of people - many of whom have faced severe trauma.
This includes mental health and counselling support, housing, legal advice, care packages, cash support, food and healthcare for children and babies.
We’re funding projects to help vulnerable groups like the Roma community to access information and services in the Roma language. And we’re working to prevent human trafficking and support survivors of violence, including funding social workers who can provide referrals for accommodation, jobs and specialist services.
We’re working to ensure that all people who need help can access it - particularly people of colour, many of whom have experienced racism amid this disaster.
We are one of the few organisations here that focus on supporting women and girls who are at risk of gender-based violence or who are survivors. Our partnership with ActionAid means that we will be able to run a helpline for women and girls who have fled the conflict – staffed with women who can speak Ukrainian.
The women who run our helplines are experts in violence against women and girls and ensure the immediate safety of the caller. They will provide immediate support, including arranging for legal and/or psychological support in complete confidentiality. We will also be setting up a helpline in other languages such as Arabic for non-Ukrainian refugees."
Joanna Piotrowska, President of Feminoteka Foundation, one of ActionAid’s partners working with refugees in Poland.
What is the situation in Ukraine?
There is currently no end in sight to this war. Intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine; Russia continues to target infrastructure in order to limit movements of aid, food and military equipment.
In a May 2022 report, Human Rights Watch confirmed that evident war crimes have been committed, in which civilians were subjected to “summary executions, torture, and other grave abuses”.3
Across the country, residential areas and civilian infrastructure continue to be impacted, resulting in more civilians being killed and injured.
Over 3.5 million Ukrainians have had their homes destroyed or damaged, there are allegations of mass human rights violations, and there are an estimated 15.7 million people in need as of summer 2022.4
About ActionAid
ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty.
Our dedicated local staff are changing the world with women and girls. We are ending violence and fighting poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want.
We operate in rural and urban communities across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
We're committed to ending the cycle of violence in communities around the world, enabling women's economic empowerment, and supporting women's and girls' rights during humanitarian crises.
Where your money goes
90% of your donation will go directly to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
10% of your donation will be retained for ActionAid’s Emergency Action Fund which will only be used for ensuring we are prepared and able to respond quickly and more effectively to future emergencies and crises.
If the total amount raised for this appeal exceeds the funds needed for the response, ActionAid will transfer the remaining balance to the Emergency Action Fund. All Gift Aid claimed on donations will fund ActionAid’s work across the world, wherever the need is greatest.
Page updated 21 February 2023
