World Vision Begins Transition to Long-Term Response for Ukraine

BUCHAREST (May 31, 2022) — In the first three months of the Ukraine crisis, global humanitarian organization World Vision and its partners have:

• Supported more than 130,000 displaced Ukrainians
• Established humanitarian operations in four countries in the region
• Implemented valuable child protection services for child refugees
• Established education programs for children

World Vision’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the needs of those displaced to neighboring countries aims to support more than half a million people across Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova by April 2023.

In just the first three months of the conflict, more than 14 million people have been displaced from their homes, including more than 6.5 million who have fled to neighboring countries such as Poland, Romania, and Moldova.

So far, World Vision has supported more than 130,000 people, with that number expected to almost double to 250,000 by the end of June as the aid organization transitions from its emergency phase to addressing prolonged humanitarian needs.

When the conflict began in Ukraine, World Vision’s emergency response focused on the provision of food, cash, safe shelter, hygiene, and child protective services for those fleeing conflict. Now, as the World Vision shifts its focus to long-term support, it will also prioritize psychosocial support and educational programs for children and families.

“The crisis in Ukraine is showing no sign of abating, and we will be responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees in the region for many months, even years going forward,” World Vision’s Response Director Hans Bederski said.

“As we move from an emergency to a longer-term response, infrastructure urgently needs to be put in place to provide housing for displaced families and education for children who have been out of school for some time now. Just three months of missed education has been shown to impact life-long test results by up to 11 perecent,” he continued. “This is especially detrimental for younger children, whose education is at a foundational and fundamental stage.”

Children on the move struggle to access education. However, World Vision is expanding its education programming to help refugee children continue their studies, whether physically or virtually. We will pivot to a model that combines informal learning with access to child protection, mental health and psychosocial support to give children the best opportunity to succeed in their learning.

World Vision, in partnership with the UN’s World Food Program, will also support generous families who are hosting refugees in countries like Moldova and Romania with cash payments to help cover their domestic costs.

World Vision also is supporting farmers in Ukraine by distributing 85,000 seed packets to 18,000 people in Rivne Oblast to strengthen community resilience and contribute to food supply.

World Vision recently warned that displacement can have significant long-term consequences on the lives of children and young people.

“Currently, more than 3.6 million children, two thirds of Ukraine’s entire child population, have been affected by the ongoing conflict, facing unprecedented interruptions to their lives and future opportunities,” Bederski said. “They have been forced to leave everything they know; their families, friends and homes and have been traumatized by the violence they have witnessed. We must ensure that it is not just their initial needs that are met, but that they are supported in the long-term and given the comfort of a home, the stability of structure and the opportunity of a meaningful education.”

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Ukraine Data Explorer (humdata.org)

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.