HIGHLIGHTS
Humanitarian needs remain high for vulnerable populations along the contact line
Exposure to mines, ERW impedes access to basic services and resources
USAID/OFDA partners provide critical health, protection, shelter, and WASH assistance to vulnerable populations in eastern Ukraine
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
Despite multiple ceasefire agreements, including the most recent armistice on August 25, daily clashes continue to result in civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure in government-controlled areas (GCA) and non-government controlled areas (NGCA) near the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
On August 31, the UN released a mid-year review of the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Ukraine, with a revised funding appeal of approximately $204 million— $10 million less than the original appeal of $214 million—to reach 2.4 million people across the country. The decreased amount is primarily due to limited humanitarian access and a reprioritization of relief efforts.
An estimated 4 million people in Ukraine were in need of humanitarian assistance in August 2017, an increase from the approximately 3.8 million people identified in November 2016, according to the UN. The figure includes an estimated 3 million people who were affected by water supply system disruptions in 2017. The UN attributed the increase to a higher number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the country, particularly in eastern Ukraine, and the resultant humanitarian needs of the displaced population.
In FY 2017, the U.S. Government (USG) provided more than $27 million—including approximately $9 million from USAID/OFDA and $3 million from USAID/FFP—in humanitarian assistance to meet the emergency food, health, protection, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs of conflict-affected populations in Ukraine.