Ukraine Crisis

The world is witnessing a vast humanitarian crisis unfold.

As military activities escalate in Ukraine, millions of people are on the move, desperately trying to flee to safety. Innocent civilians are being killed, families and lives are being torn apart.

ShelterBox is responding to the Ukraine crisis. We are working on three projects – two within Ukraine and one to support refugees fleeing the county. Scroll down for more information, or click here.

As people are forced to leave their homes behind, and families get separated, please know that you can help people.

Your support will provide lifesaving aid for families affected by the Ukraine crisis. Any additional money raised will help families affected by disaster in other parts of the world, like Ethiopia or the Philippines.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a military operation on Ukraine.

The humanitarian need in Ukraine is dramatically increasing. People are fleeing major cities like the capital, Kyiv, or sheltering where they can in places like metro stations. The situation is developing rapidly, and the UN predicts as many as 12 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance.

Neighboring countries including Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, as well as Russia, are responding to the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict with the UN reportedly predicting as many as 4 million refugees may flee Ukraine.

Referring to the number of people reported having fled Ukraine, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said, “This figure has been rising exponentially, hour after hour, literally since Thursday. I have worked in refugee crises for almost 40 years and I have rarely seen such an incredibly fast rising exodus of people.”

We have aid on the way. We are working on three projects – two within Ukraine and one to support refugees fleeing the county.

• We are working with our partner, People in Need, to provide mattresses for collective centres like schools and churches in Lviv, Ukraine. Collective centres are places where people fleeing conflict-affected areas are seeking shelter and safety. The mattresses will help people sleep and keep warm at night.
• We are preparing to provide shelter kits with tools and rope, high thermal blankets, hygiene kits including items like soap, washing powder and toothpaste, solar lights, buckets and water carriers to help people survive in buildings damaged by the conflict.
• We will be supporting refugees in neighbouring countries with high priority items they can carry with them, like hygiene items and warm winter coats.

We will continue to keep you updated on this response as it progresses.

1. Millions of people in eastern Ukraine have been severely affected by an ongoing conflict that began in 2014 when Crimea was annexed from Ukraine.

2. Before the recent escalation in conflict, the UN estimated that 2.9 million people in Ukraine were already in need of humanitarian assistance.

3. According to the UN Refugee Agency, before the latest increase in violence, nearly 1.5 million people were internally displaced within Ukraine, with half being over the age of 60 – making it one of the ‘oldest’ crises in the world.

4. Since 2014, Ukraine has been the target of multiple cyber-attacks, some resulting in devastating power blackouts affecting thousands of people.

5. Winter temperatures fall as low as -8 °C in Ukraine, causing even more challenges for people caught up in the conflict.

6. The UN is predicting as many 12 million people may need humanitarian assistance, with 6.7 million people projected to be internally displaced within Ukraine and that up to 4 million refugees may be seen as a result of this crisis.