24 March 2022, Lviv, Ukraine – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has launched in cooperation with Ukrposhta a large-scale cash assistance programme to help vulnerable displaced people cover their basic needs.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, joined forces with Ukrposhta to launch a cash assistance programme to reach – as an initial target - 360,000 displaced people across Ukraine with 2,220 Hryvnia per person per month, for the duration of three months. Families will be able to collect their cash through Ukrposhta branches in all regions of Ukraine.

The programme aims to support people who have fled the Russian military offensive to meet their immediate basic needs, including temporary accommodation, food and hygiene items in their place of displacement. This cash assistance complements other ongoing support being provided by UNHCR and partners.

“The consequences of the war are devastating for many millions of people in Ukraine who had to flee, leaving behind friends and communities and their homes, belongings, and jobs”, said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine. “Around one quarter of Ukraine’s population has already been forcibly displaced and the ongoing hostilities are pushing people to the edge. While humanitarian assistance cannot take away the trauma caused by these losses, it can help alleviate some of the pressure on families by contributing to their ability to meet basic needs like accommodation, transport, food and hygiene items”.

Enrolments for cash assistance have started in Lviv and will continue in other locations in Ukraine. So far, UNHCR and its partners R2P and CrimeaSOS have enrolled 1,543 individuals (720 families), with the first payments scheduled for 25 March and later. The programme benefits people in Ukraine who are forcibly displaced and do not plan to leave the territory of Ukraine.

UNHCR is setting up enrolment sites in places where registration or assistance to IDPs is being conducted, in Lviv city, and soon in other areas. For more information on the enrolment sites, please visit UNHCR website.

“Our partner UNHCR has chosen Ukrposhta for the direct disbursement of funds to Ukrainians in need, because we have vast experience in delivering money to people during wartime, and can provide various formats of payment: delivery to the branch or address delivery. Ukrposhta has the widest network, and our branches have been operating since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, even in Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolayiv, Kherson and other cities where the situation is critical and where the population needs help the most,” said Ukrposhta Director General Igor Smilyansky.

Almost four weeks into Russia’s military offensive, Ukraine faces a dire humanitarian crisis. Intensified attacks have led to a surge in casualties and humanitarian needs across the country. At least ten million people have been displaced within and outside of the country and 12.65 million are directly affected by the military hostilities.

As part of an inter-agency response, UNHCR is working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners to provide protection information and counselling, distribute essential items and cash assistance, increase reception and accommodation capacity and deliver emergency shelter kits to people with damaged homes.

The project is implemented through UNHCR NGO partners in Ukraine: R2P, NEEKA, CrimeaSOS, Nememia.

For more information, please contact: 0800307711 [email protected]

Information for editors:

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. Since 1950, UNHCR has led international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and prosecution. The organisation provides them with life-saving assistance, including shelter, food, as well as water and also helps safeguard their fundamental human rights. In Ukraine, UNHCR has been working since 1994 to protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons. More information: www.unhcr.org

Ukrposhta is the national postal operator in Ukraine, which has the biggest network with coverage of 100% of the localities in Ukraine and about 11 000 post offices across Ukraine. Ukrposhta's key activities are postal and logistics services, which account for 55.9%, financial services - 40.9%, trade - 3.2%. The company provides more than 50 services for individuals and corporate clients. Ukrposhta has been operating since the first days of the war - the company delivers domestic and international shipments, pensions, humanitarian aid from abroad, accepts payments and also sells basic necessities. Current list of branches is available under this link.