As of November 2024, there are 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide. Ukraine: UN releases updated data on refugees and internally displaced persons Refugees and Migrants
Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, and vulnerable groups are facing serious hardship. The latest bulletin from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) outlines the response and remaining funding gaps.
Winter and humanitarian aid: “racing against time”
In rural areas of Ukraine, the UN Refugee Agency and its partners are distributing kits to help insulate homes and protect them from frost.
More than 550,000 people are also receiving cash assistance to cover energy and heating costs.
The scale of forced displacement
As of November 2024, there are 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide. Of these, 6.2 million are registered in Europe and another 560,200 are outside it. As of August 2024, 3.67 million Ukrainians have fled their homes and found temporary refuge in their own country.
The number of people leaving the country is growing
UNHCR notes an increase in the number of people leaving the country compared to the data recorded in the summer months. Power outages and lack of security are cited as reasons for leaving, and recently, as the Department notes, housing problems have been ranked third on this list.
Support for vulnerable groups
Protecting vulnerable groups remains a key part of UNHCR’s strategy. For example, in Poltava and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, special spaces have been created where children from internally displaced families can receive educational or psychosocial support.
Evacuation and International Cooperation
Since the beginning of August, according to local authorities, more than 128,000 people have been evacuated from Donetsk region, including 24,000 from active combat zones. Transit points established with international support provide temporary housing, medical care and psychosocial services to people forced to flee their homes.
Approximately 330,000 people remain in areas of Donetsk region controlled by Ukraine, including 63,000 in active combat zones.
Funding shortfall
UNHCR requested $993.3 million in 2024 to help displaced Ukrainians, but only 52 percent of this amount has been received so far. The situation is similar with the Regional Response Plan, drawn up jointly by UNHCR and the UN Humanitarian Office: only 60 percent of the $3.11 billion needed has been raised.
Call to Action
Ukraine, which is going through its third year of war, faces numerous challenges, made worse by the winter. The UN calls on the international community to support life-saving measures. The Ukrainian people are showing incredible resilience, but, as the report notes, they cannot cope with this crisis alone.