The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said it was forced to reduce support for newly displaced Ukrainians as international funding - including from the United States - plummets. Reuters reported this, citing a statement from the agency, BTA reports.
US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend foreign aid is having a serious impact on humanitarian operations around the world. According to UNHCR, the United States accounted for about 40% of its funding last year, and along with other Western donors who are also diverting resources to military spending, they are leaving a serious gap in the agency's budget.
“Some of the programs that we previously implemented with generous US support are now suspended,“ said Carolina Lindhulme Billing, UNHCR's representative in Ukraine. Among the initiatives affected are the provision of emergency shelter, psychosocial support and cash assistance for the most vulnerable.
Since the beginning of the year, nearly 9,000 people fleeing the intensified shelling have passed through UNHCR transit centers in Pavlograd and Sumy, where they have received clothing, hygiene kits, legal assistance and psychological support. According to the agency, more than 200,000 people have been evacuated or displaced between August last year and March 2025.
The UNHCR says its appeal for $3.32 billion to help 8.2 million people in need in Ukraine is currently only 25% funded. "We have had to reduce the number of people we are prioritizing," Billing said, urging international donors to restore their support.
In recent days, several regions, including Kyiv, as well as the cities of Kharkiv and Pavlohrad, have come under renewed attack. Meanwhile, President Trump continues to push for a swift peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.