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UKRAINE UPDATE: DRC is mobilizing an effective, broad, and timely humanitarian response
Head of Emergency: “We aim to assist both internally displaced people and host communities in Ukraine, as well as refugees and host communities in neighboring countries.”
The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is rapidly escalating. Russian troops have expanded their presence with major attacks reported across Ukraine, resulting in large scale displacement as people seek refuge elsewhere within Ukraine or in neighboring countries.
The Danish Refugee Council is working to ensure that people from Ukraine who are in the neighboring countries are protected and receive appropriate levels of humanitarian assistance in the context of the ongoing conflict.
In Ukraine DRC is aiming to stay and deliver humanitarian assistance to vulnerable individuals forced to relocate from their places of residence within Ukraine, as well as vulnerable host communities in Ukraine.
“The purpose of DRC’s response is to assist both internally displaced peoples and host communities in Ukraine and refugees and host communities in neighboring countries in coping with the effects of the conflict,” says Christian Gad, head of Emergency, DRC.
Specialized emergency response
DRC has been present in Ukraine since 1998 – scaling up following the 2014 crisis - in multiple sectors and creating a strong platform of engagement with communities, national and local authorities. DRC staff are specialized in core sectors of emergency response, and DRC’s mission and values are centered around support to displacement affected populations.
“In collaboration with our partners, we are preparing to rapidly scale-up life-saving emergency response, once the security situation permits. We are mobilizing an effective, broad and timely humanitarian response,” stresses Christian Gad.
Multisector assessments in and around Ukraine
Operationally the situation remains fluid and access is restricted. A core international team within Ukraine is currently setting up an operational hub in south-western part of the country. Whilst DRC plans to implement directly where feasible, it has also already established relationships with several local partners, e.g. Right to protect, Ukrainian Red Cross, and Caritas, working in different areas of Ukraine.
DRC intends to deploy mobile teams to implement a needs and area based multisector response as windows of access permit.
In full recognition of the rapidly expanding humanitarian consequences and needs, DRC has initiated a scoping mission initially to Moldova, Poland and Romania.
“A coordinated rapid multisector assessment is in progress. However, our response is centered around DRC’s core emergency response sectors of emergency protection assistance, emergency shelter provision, site coordination and management, and coordination and advocacy,” says head of Emergency Christian Gad, who is part of the scoping mission, currently in Poland.