UN emergency relief chief Tom Fletcher and Filippo Grandi, high commissioner of the UN refugee agency – UNHCR, issued a joint appeal in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Thursday, saying millions of people in the country, both in India and abroad, are suffering. The ongoing Russian offensive depends on the support of the international community.
“The Ukrainian people have shown incredible courage over the years and we need to respond with real, genuine, sustained international engagement to help, and we need to do so from the heart,” said Tom Fletcher.
“We will stand by the people of Ukraine as long as necessary to meet these needs and support those people…” he said.
“We cannot forget the people of Ukraine who are in the occupied territories and whose needs are great. And we must be creative and bold in bringing our support to those who need it most.”
Millions of people are in need
This application is designed to provide critical assistance to around 6 million people inside Ukraine – where the total need is more than double this number.
The need to help Ukrainian refugees, some 6.8 million people living abroad, is also included in the appeal.
About $2.62 billion has been allocated to domestic support teams, while UNHCR has committed $690 million in 2025 and $1.2 billion for 2025-2026 to help refugee-hosting countries in 11 countries.
“The aim, of course, is not to ensure that these people remain refugees forever,” said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
“The aim is to create favorable conditions for these people to return to Ukraine. This is what Ukraine needs and this is what most refugees want.”
Bombing every day
Filippo Grandi, head of the refugee agency, spoke to reporters on his sixth visit to Ukraine, drawing attention to the continuing impact of the bombings on the front lines day after day.
He said, the people there are facing destruction and deprivation in the harsh winter. “Here, Kiev is a big city, but when you go to a small town, you see that people’s lives have been completely destroyed; almost everyone had to leave their homes.
He said, “To keep warm in the cold, few people have the luxury… The targeting of the Russian Federation’s energy infrastructure is something that must be stopped. It is certainly directly affecting civilian life.”
Matthias Schmele, UN Resident and Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator in Ukraine, emphasized that NGOs working in the country and their partners, as well as the UN, continue to provide assistance and, where possible, reach out to protect the most vulnerable people from the conflict. Zone continues to drain.
“We are particularly supporting those living in and among areas close to the front lines, particularly disabled people and older people with mobility issues.”