Ukraine

Although the headlines are dominated by news of heavy shelling and of Russian troop movement, the conflict has created multi-faceted crises and widespread needs. Within these spaces, a need for protection is clear.

Even though international actors reestablished their presence in Ukraine in early 2022, the bulk of humanitarian response in de-occupied and frontline areas continue to be carried out by local organizations and informal volunteer networks—all with little support. 

From children to LGBTQI+ communities to people with disabilities and illnesses, to elderly people and those in hospitals or institutions, there are many who are either displaced, unable, or unwilling to evacuate, especially those who are living in institutions or hospitals. Not only are they at risk of injury or death from the war, but also struggle to find food, medicine or the shelter they need to survive. 

NP's work in Ukraine

NP works in de-occupied and frontline areas in south and north of Ukraine, providing unarmed protection to civilians, including local volunteer collectives.  

By proactively engaging with war-affected communities and key stakeholders, NP teams have facilitated enhanced and safer access to humanitarian services for populations with special needs in de-occupied territories, as well as in areas close to the frontline or otherwise hard to reach. NP also works to improve the safety and security of local volunteers and first responders while supporting them to continue and expand their efforts along frontlines. NP has integrated conflict mitigation and healing into short-term emergency response and aims to foster a conducive environment for local volunteer collectives to shape early recovery and post-war peacebuilding. 

To date, NP Ukraine’s greatest achievements include protection through presence in underserved, highly insecure territories where international presence is limited or non-existent, disseminating information on available essential humanitarian services to civilians on the move, and supporting the local response through providing personal protective equipment (like protective vests), fuel, and volunteer stipends. This has allowed teams to focus on our main objective – providing protection and continuous support to civilians, civil society organizations and volunteer groups.

See more:

• Preliminary Findings (May 2022)
  
• Kharkiv Snapshot (June 2022) in English; in Ukrainian 
  
• Mykolaiv Snapshot (July 2022) in English; in Ukrainian
  
• Kharkiv Snapshot Update (Sept 2022)
  
• Kherson Rapid Assessment (Nov 2022) in English; in Ukrainian
  
• Kherson Snapshot Update (Dec 2022)
  
• Civilian Protection Needs in De-Occupied Frontline Territories (February 2023)
• Responsible Partnerships? Risk, protection & local actors in the Ukraine humanitarian response (May 2023); in Ukrainian
• Kakhovka Dam Civilian Protection Needs & Responses (June 2023); in Ukrainian
• Protection needs and responses in de-occupied and frontline areas in Donetska Oblast, Ukraine (August 2023)

The future of NP's work in Ukraine

NP will continue to focus on addressing urgent civilian protection needs for vulnerable communities across Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson Oblasts. The team will continue to provide protection for communities in hard-to-reach places and connect them to humanitarian services like food, water, and medicine.