J807NU WFP Ukraine Emergency Relief Appeal

In co-operation with our long term partner World Food Programme (WFP), Global Development Group is launching an emergency relief appeal (J807NU) to provide food assistance for people fleeing the conflict inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries, following an official request from the country’s Government.

“We are deeply concerned for the impact of hostilities on the lives and livelihoods of civilians,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP’s Director of Emergencies. “As the situation evolves, there is a need to ensure that affected communities have continued access to any humanitarian support they may require and that the safety of humanitarian staff on the ground is guaranteed.”

The food assistance operation is expected to cover refugees in neighboring countries, guided by the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence.

While it is difficult to estimate the humanitarian consequences of this developing war, UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – estimates that 422,000 Ukrainians have already fled the country and sought refuge in neighboring countries since the beginning of the conflict. Miles-long traffic jams are being seen towards Ukraine’s neighbors to the west.

The majority of the people fleeing to the Polish border are women and children, as men are not allowed to leave the country. The waiting time to cross the 14 km backlog into Poland can be up to 40 hours, with temperatures as low as -2°C at night. Families are desperate, cold, afraid and hungry.

Food and drinking water shortages are reported in pockets of the capital Kyiv and in Kharkiv, the two cities currently bearing the brunt of the ongoing conflict.

WFP staff in the capital say that food supplies are running low, with grocery store shelves almost empty. Food shortages will be another obstacle facing residents of Kyiv, many of whom have taken shelter in metro stations.

WFP teams are on th