Millions of Ukrainians face deepening crisis: UNHCR

2026-02-24 - 21:32

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the humanitarian situation inside Ukraine continues to deteriorate despite the gradual end of winter. Speaking in Geneva, Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR’s regional director for Europe, stated that sustained attacks on homes, energy grids and essential services left millions exposed to prolonged power and heating shortages. “While temperatures are slowly rising, the damage remains,” he said. Rising humanitarian needs in 2026 UNHCR estimates that 10.8 million people within Ukraine will require humanitarian aid in 2026. Among them are approximately 3.7 million internally displaced persons who have been forced to leave their homes due to ongoing hostilities. The agency also reported that 5.9 million Ukrainians continue to live as refugees abroad, primarily across European countries. Host governments have extended protection frameworks, granting access to education, healthcare and employment, helping many refugees stabilize their living conditions. However, Leclerc emphasized that additional long-term solutions are necessary. Call for durable protection measures Alongside Temporary Protection mechanisms adopted by European states, UNHCR urged governments to consider alternative legal pathways for extended stays for those unable to return home in the near term. “As winter fades, the humanitarian crisis does not,” Leclerc said, calling for sustained international support both inside Ukraine and across host countries. For 2026, UNHCR and its partners aim to assist 2 million people within Ukraine and provide support to 1.7 million refugees across Europe, combining emergency relief with recovery-focused initiatives.