Europe

Ukraine

Health
Mental health & psychosocial support
Protection
Water, sanitation & hygiene

2015

mission start date

194

national staff

expatriate staff

375 000

people supported

2015

mission start date

194

national staff

expatriate staff

375 000

people supported

Context

©Première Urgence Internationale / Alexandra Henry

Since 2014, eastern Ukraine has been destabilized by a conflict between the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and the Ukrainian government. These clashes resulted in over 3,000 civilian deaths, 7,000 injuries, and affected 5.4 million people.

Russia’s 2022 military offensive led to Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Nearly 3.7 million Ukrainians are displaced within the country, and 6.5 million have fled to Europe.

Some displaced people have lived in shelters or temporary housing for almost two years, or moved repeatedly. Over 10,000 civilians were killed, including 587 children. More than 87% were casualties of explosive weapons. Regular attacks heavily impact essential services and livelihoods. At least 210,000 buildings have been damaged. Attacks on energy infrastructure have destroyed over 70% of Ukraine’s system, causing daily power cuts for millions.

Our approach
Description of the mission

Première Urgence Internationale began its mission in Ukraine in 2015 in the Donetska Oblast, providing healthcare, social and psychological support, access to water, and ensuring sanitary and hygienic requirements in medical facilities and collective centers.

Since 2022, in the context of an unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, Première Urgence Internationale has launched intervention to support the most affected civilian populations in the East, North-East and Western parts of the country to expand support for the most vulnerable populations of Ukraine. Our teams are currently providing assistance in the following oblasts: Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska, Donetska, Zaporizka, Dnipropetrovska, Poltavska and Kharkivska.

Since July 2022, Première Urgence Internationale has been leading the Dorijka consortium with four other French organizations: Action Contre la Faim, Triangle Génération Humanitaire, Humanity & Inclusion and Solidarités International. This multi-sectoral project, working on shelter, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, logistics, protection and mental health support, is active in 13 oblasts of the country.

Explore our certification in Ukraine

Première Urgence Internationale
in action

Première Urgence Internationale’s mobile teams intervene directly in collective accommodation centers and in rural areas far from public infrastructure. They offer free individual or group consultations on health, mental health, and protection, as well as free medication for the most vulnerable civilians, particularly displaced persons and populations affected by conflict. In 2023, more than 37,000 consultations were provided, including 15,000 to displaced persons.

Structural support consists of providing winter items (boilers, heaters, blankets), personal protective equipment, non-food items, and generators to community structures, such as health centers and collective shelters, to ensure the continuity of their services. Première Urgence Internationale is carrying out rehabilitation work on water supply and sanitation systems in the Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kharkiv regions.

In 2023, we helped more than 143,000 beneficiaries rehabilitate their water, sanitation, and hygiene services. In the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, our team provides vulnerable populations with multi-purpose cash assistance to enable them to meet their most basic needs. In the Donetska, Kharkivska, and Lvivska regions, Première Urgence Internationale provides electronic vouchers for medicines to ensure access to medicines excluded from the affordable medicines program.

Première Urgence Internationale helped more than 200,000 people in 2023.

©Première Urgence Internationale / Dana Selezen

©Première Urgence Internationale

©Première Urgence Internationale / Yuliia Voloshyna

©Première Urgence Internationale

Nicolas Ben-Oliel

Country Director for the Ukraine Mission © Première Urgence Internationale

“In Ukraine today, Premiere Urgence Internationale continues to focus on delivering essential healthcare services, as well as mental health and psychosocial support. We provide protection and assistance to displaced populations, strengthening partnerships and collaboration with Ukrainian stakeholders, government entities, and other humanitarian organizations. The objective is to ensure a sustainable response to the ongoing crisis.”