Rome, Italy, July 9, 2025 — As global leaders and donors gather for the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) urges decision-makers to ensure that recovery efforts remain firmly rooted in the needs and voices of those most affected by the conflict.
This year’s conference takes place against a backdrop of global aid cuts and as the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine surges amid the ongoing summer offensive. A missile strike in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, on 13 April—killing at least 36 people, including two children—was the deadliest attack the country has witnessed since 2023. Recent devastating strikes on Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa are further tragic reminders of both the immense human cost of the war and the continued need for humanitarian assistance.
The IRC welcomes the conference’s renewed focus on mobilizing investment for reconstruction and economic growth, ensuring social recovery, and the recognition of civil society as a key partner in Ukraine’s recovery. A truly people-centred approach will mean engaging the whole of society—women and girls, youth, older people, and individuals living with disabilities—each with their own perspectives and needs. Refugees, internally displaced people, and affected local communities must all play an active role in shaping Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction plans.
Alain Homsy, IRC Country Director in Ukraine, said:
“As global leaders attend the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome today, the IRC stands with the people of Ukraine who, despite immense hardship, continue to show extraordinary resilience.
“Recovery is not just about rebuilding damaged roads and buildings — it’s about restoring lives, dignity, and hope. This is why effective recovery efforts must also include commitments to large-scale demining, the restoration of housing and vital social infrastructure, and the creation of job opportunities.
“We call on international partners to sustain their commitment to early recovery and locally led solutions that put those affected at the very heart of the process. The IRC, working alongside local partners, continues to deliver life-saving support to people affected by the war, and we remain firmly committed to supporting Ukrainians as they one day rebuild stronger and safer futures.”
Notes to Editors
About the IRC Response in Ukraine: Present in the country since February 2022, the IRC has been focusing its assistance in the areas most heavily affected by the war, particularly in the east and southeast of Ukraine. During 2024-2025 IRC mobile health units have provided over 100,000 consultations to more than 148,000 clients, and over 100 health facilities have received donations of medicine and equipment. We have supported almost 55,000 with financial aid and essential items, more than 42,000 women and girls have benefited from IRC services. We have supported 45,000 children and families with sessions designed to help them regain a sense of childhood and recover from the horrors of war.