Kyiv, Ukraine, February 22, 2024 — As 2024 marks ten years of conflict in Ukraine and two years since the full-scale Russian invasion, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) asked hundreds of Ukrainians what they would want the world to know about the decade of turmoil. Through comprehensive findings outlined in a new report, the IRC sheds light on the enduring impact of the war, as normal life remains out of reach for millions of Ukrainians.
- 87% of IRC survey respondents had to leave their home at least once since 2014, with 20% experiencing displacement multiple times;
- Over 36% of people surveyed reported having to forgo basic necessities due to financial difficulties;
- Millions of families have been separated by the conflict; 74% of IRC survey respondents reported being separated from a close family member;
- 70% of survey respondents reported losing a job or needing to change their career path as a result of the conflict, including 45% who had to accept another job with a lower wage or below their qualifications;
- According to the IRC survey, 82% of Ukrainians reported experiencing frequent feelings of stress, anxiety, or sadness in the past few months.
These are some of the things surveyed Ukrainians conveyed to the IRC:
- “I hope the world has not become indifferent... and not used to the fact that there is a war in Ukraine. And the most important thing is for the world to know that the war began in 2014.”
- “I want everyone to know how children ask to go home, and how difficult it is for them to understand that they are not at home.”
- “I was displaced twice, because in 2014 I was forced to leave the Luhansk region, and in 2022 - from Kharkiv. All these years of being dumped in other people's homes... How can I tell about the pain and sadness, about the impossibility to visit the graves of my parents all these years?”
- “War takes everything you have. Kills your loved ones. Forces you to start life from scratch in a new place.”
Scott Lea, IRC’s Ukraine Country Director, said:
“The voices of the Ukrainian people surveyed by the International Rescue Committee are a powerful testament to the horrors of prolonged conflict, as they fear that the world may have grown indifferent to their plight. They say that describing ten years of war is difficult in one sentence. Indeed, every day, we witness how the war continues to have a detrimental impact on material conditions, mental health, economic situations, and access to education. It violently tears families apart, causing unimaginable suffering.
“We need to ensure the abnormal does not become a norm, that we do not become desensitised to the horrors of war, and that the ongoing human tragedy does not cease to evoke a global response. Solidarity has no expiration date, and the international community must ensure this is not a forgotten crisis — continuing to stand with the people of Ukraine.”
Alan Moseley, IRC’s Country Director in Poland, added:
“Europe still remains home to 6 million refugees from Ukraine, unsure if or when they will be able to return home. In addition to sustained funding for humanitarian response in Ukraine, there is a need to strengthen support for refugees in hosting countries by ensuring continued support for critical interventions that complement existing social protection systems, and that meet acute needs. States must also commit to developing durable options for Ukrainians who will need to start transitioning out of temporary protection regimes.”
You can access a full report analysing the impact of 10-years on conflict here.
Notes to editor:
- To mark 10 years of conflict in Ukraine, the IRC launched a pan-European survey through its Signpost system - the IRC's community-led information service that empowers people on the move in times of crisis. Signpost’s vision is to give the power of information to communities in crises worldwide: to empower and equip refugees to reclaim a sense of control over their lives and make the decisions that are best for them. Signpost is uniquely positioned to help people in crisis, wherever they may be - and has reached over 70 million people so far on social media and has ~11 million users.
- For the purpose of the study, we worked with Refugee.Info service in Central and Eastern Europe, Greece and Italy, as well as our partners at United for Ukraine.
- We received answers from 640 Ukrainian clients inside the country and across Europe telling us they would want the world to know about the war. We also examined how the conflict has impacted aspects of their lives commonly considered as indicators of normalcy.
- You can access a collection of curated photos and b-rolls showcasing humanitarian impact of the war, as well as b-roll from our winter response in Kherson, Kharkiv children’s programme and mobile medical team © International Rescue Committee.
About the IRC’s Ukraine Response
In Ukraine, we are focusing our assistance in the areas most heavily affected by the war, in the east and southeast of the country. Working with partners, we are striving to ensure that people have access to financial assistance and essential items and are safe from abuse and exploitation, that children can thrive in safe spaces, and that conflict-affected populations have access to relevant information that enables them to make informed decisions about their next steps. We also run gender-based violence prevention and response activities, and provide health, mental health, and psychological support. Our inclusion activities are focused on boosting employability and economic empowerment. IRC programmes targeting Ukrainian refugees are active in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Germany, UK and US.