UN Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine: Types of Payments, Programs, and How to Receive It

During the full-scale war in Ukraine, humanitarian programs play a key role in the support of the civilian population, internally displaced persons, the wounded, and the most vulnerable groups. One of the largest such initiatives is aid from the UN — a comprehensive system of payments, humanitarian kits, housing support, legal and social assistance, which is realized by several international agencies: UNHCR, WFP, IOM, UNFPA, and others.

BlueBird Tech, a Ukrainian producer of military technologies, prepared the article on the basis of the official data of UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), WFP (the World Food Programme), IOM, UNFPA, and the humanitarian reports of OCHA. The article was created for the military, veterans, their families, volunteers, people from front-line regions, pensioners, and all Ukrainians who want to understand who can receive aid from international programs and how.

What Is Included in the UN Humanitarian Aid Program in Ukraine

The humanitarian programs of the UN in Ukraine are a complex of support measures aimed at helping people who suffered as a result of the war. UN agencies realize a number of emergency humanitarian aid programs in Ukraine, including financial support, the provision of basic needs, temporary housing, and the protection of the most vulnerable groups of the population. The aid is provided in the form of:

• cash payments;
• food and hygiene kits;
• temporary housing;
• support for pregnant women and young mothers;
• medical and psychological help;
• consultations and legal support;
•  evacuation and the restoration of damaged housing.

In Ukraine, the humanitarian programs of the UN are realized through several agencies, and each of them is responsible for its own direction of aid. The agencies work in close cooperation with the government of Ukraine, local communities, and partner organizations in order to ensure quick and targeted support to those who need it most.

Which Goals and Directions of Aid From the UN Exist in Ukraine

The main goal is to protect people who found themselves in a crisis because of the war and ensure them with minimal conditions for life.

The main directions of support:

• Financial assistance to IDPs, families with children, pensioners, people with a disability (including aid to pensioners from the UN).
• Emergency payments for those who lost housing or were left without means of subsistence.
• Food programs — WFP provides food kits in front-line regions.
• Housing support — UNHCR helps with rent or repair.
• Protection of women and children — UNFPA and UNICEF.
• Psychological and medical help — mobile brigades and partner organizations.
• Legal support — consultations regarding documents, social rights, evacuation, and restoration.

In order to form a full picture of the possibilities of humanitarian support in Ukraine, we recommend also reading our article about humanitarian aid from international organizations, where the key programs and forms of support available for various categories of Ukrainians are gathered.

Who Can Receive Humanitarian Aid From the UN in Ukraine?

Aid from the UN is available to various categories of the population. The main groups:

1. Internally displaced persons

Persons who were forced to leave their home because of the war.

2. People who live in front-line or de-occupied regions

Above all, those who need food, water, hygiene products, and housing.

3. Families with children

In particular, families with children under 18, large families, guardianship families.

4. People with a disability and serious illnesses

Persons who, because of the state of health, have difficulties with the provision of basic needs.

5. People who lost housing

The UN supports programs of repair, rent, and temporary placement.

What Is Needed to Receive Humanitarian Aid From the UN in Ukraine?

The procedure of submitting an application for receiving humanitarian aid depends on the concrete UN agency, but mostly includes the following stages:

1. Registration

Through:

• «eDopomoga»,
• partner charitable funds,
• centers of social protection,
• mobile teams of humanitarian organizations.

2. Confirmation of identity

Passport, TIN, or a document that certifies identity.

3. Documents that confirm the status

Depending on the case, such documents include:

• IDP certificate;
• document about disability;
• child’s birth certificate;
• confirmation of destroyed/damaged housing;
• decision of social services.

4. Verification of data

The UN and partners conduct the verification of applications in order to make sure that the aid is provided to those who really need it.

5. Provision of aid

In the case of approval:

• the funds arrive on a bank card,
• or humanitarian kits are issued,
• or temporary housing/repair is provided.

The Role of Aid From the UN and the Technological Support of Ukraine

Aid from the UN is one of the most important programs of support of the population of Ukraine during the war. It covers payments, humanitarian kits, housing support, legal support, and psychological help. Particular attention is paid to the most vulnerable categories: families with children, IDPs, people with a disability, and elderly Ukrainians.