Switzerland for UNHCR is highly pleased to announce that the Z Zurich Foundation has decided to support UNHCR across Ukraine and in neighbouring countries to provide protection, humanitarian assistance and psychological support to fleeing civilians.
The escalation of the military operation in Ukraine has triggered a steep rise in humanitarian needs as essential supplies and services are disrupted and civilians flee. As UNHCR prepares to assist the estimated 4 million people who may flee from Ukraine, mental health and psychosocial support will be part of the response plans.
The generous funding from the Z Zurich Foundation will be used to meet the paramount needs on the ground, ranging from protection and humanitarian assistance, including emergency shelters, repairs for homes damaged by shelling and emergency cash assistance, to psychological support for civilians who were forced to flee.
People worldwide are joining forces to support victims of the Ukrainian crisis in various ways. It was unimaginable for us at the Z Zurich Foundation not to mobilize our resources to help. We are inviting everyone who can to also support the most vulnerable and also to look after each other. The consequences of this crisis are going to be, unfortunately, gigantic. In addition to the massive humanitarian aid needs, mental health services will likely emerge as a sustainable need for many. This is also an area we will continue to monitor in order to adapt our response accordingly.
- Gregory Renand, Head of the Z Zurich Foundation.
In addition, UNHCR is helping set up and run a number of transit centres, where initial needs for displaced people can be assessed. The most vulnerable refugees, in particular survivors of violence, unaccompanied and separated children, older persons, single women and female-headed households, will be supported through protection one-stop shops/information and referral centres that will offer protection case management, assistance and referrals to key services such as legal aid, family reunification and alternative care.
UNHCR will continue carrying out regular protection monitoring to identify key protection concerns faced by communities living close to the frontline, and the capacities of communities and service providers.
More information on the evolution of the situation is available on the UNHCR data portal.