Russia’s invasion into Ukraine has spiraled into a widespread humanitarian emergency. Here are four facts to help grasp the staggering scale of the crisis and the shockwaves it’s sending around the globe.
By: Emma Schwartz
Posted: April 8, 2022
As fighting rages on in Ukraine and hospitals and civilians face increasing attacks, millions of people are suffering the devastating consequences.
In a matter of weeks, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to one of the world’s largest refugee crises and widespread medical needs across the region.
Project HOPE teams in Poland, Moldova, and Romania are providing urgent support for refugees seeking safety. In Moldova, Project HOPE partners SAMU are providing direct care and health screenings for refugees as they cross the border, while in Poland our support is helping the University Children’s Hospital in Krakow provide care for refugee children.
Fact 2: At least 100 attacks on health care have been recorded.
Critical infrastructure is being destroyed where civilians are most vulnerable and care is needed most. The consequences are devastating in the short term, but they will also have a profound impact on Ukraine long after this crisis is over. The conflict has also disrupted access to basic medical services and greatly increased risk for people living with some of the country’s greatest health challenges, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV and TB.
The disruption will exacerbate the world’s food crisis: It’s estimated that anywhere from 7.6 million to 13.1 million people could go hungry as a result, leading to profound health impacts that could reverberate around the world.
Fact 4: Some 80,000 women in Ukraine are expected to give birth in the next three months, and many of them don’t have access to maternal care.
Women are disproportionately impacted by humanitarian crises. In Ukraine, it’s estimated that 80,000 women will be giving birth in the next three months — and because of the desperate state of Ukraine’s health system, many of them will have no choice but to deliver without maternal care.
This is especially alarming for the 12,000 women predicted to need lifesaving emergency obstetric and newborn care, who will be at heightened risk of dying from preventable causes.
Project HOPE is helping ensure hospitals across Ukraine have the essential pharmaceuticals and medical supplies they need to treat patients. As we continue to scale up our response, our teams in and around Ukraine are assessing health facilities to determine the greatest needs and how we and our partners can help fill those gaps. And as refugee numbers continue to increase — especially in Poland — our teams are preparing contingency planning for health facilities to be able to meet the increased demands on their systems.
How you can help Ukraine
The war in Ukraine could displace millions of people and lead to a humanitarian catastrophe that impacts vulnerable women, children, and families. If you want to help, here’s how you can get involved:
1. Make a lifesaving gift to support our work now and for the future. Project HOPE stands ready to assist the Ukrainian people with health and humanitarian aid, both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries. Our emergency response team and European partners are sending critically needed medical supplies, and they are prepared to assist refugees with health screenings, mental health support, and medical care as the crisis unfolds. Please join our efforts by making a lifesaving gift to our Ukraine crisis response today.
2. Fundraise for Ukraine by streaming on Tiltify to raise money for Project HOPE. If you’re a content creator, you can start a charity stream on Tiltify to Stream for HOPE and raise funds for Project HOPE’s mission. Tag us on social @projectHOPEorg to let us know about your charity stream so we can thank you!
3. Interested in an employee giving campaign for Ukraine? Please contact us – we are happy to help.
4. Stay up-to-date on this story and our lifesaving work around the world by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and help spread the word about our response.