United Nations agencies in Belarus jointly respond to Ukrainian refugees’ crisis

Nearly one third of the population forced to flee their homes -- about 8 million people have fled Ukraine and found refuge in neighbouring countries and 5.4 million people Ukrainians left their homes and moved to other parts of Ukraine. 

According to the Government of Belarus, as of 21 February 2023 there are 20,536 Ukrainian refugees registered in the country.  Among them, 66% are women.

Since the beginning of the crisis, the UN system has played an important role in providing humanitarian support to the refugees and strengthening the capacities of Belarusian institutions and organisations on the local level responsible for the first line of response. 

Under the leadership and coordination of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), all entities, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joined efforts for implementation of the regional Plan of response to the influx of refugees from Ukraine.

Working together, UN agencies developed the WeHelp online platform functioning as  information portal for refugees from Ukraine, where they can conveniently and quickly get information on registration of legal status in the country, humanitarian assistance or finding work and housing.  It is linked to a number of other sources including the UNHCR Help Page which is connected to a network of UNHCR Help Pages across the region for a regional approach.

On the ground, in cooperation with the Belarussian Red Cross and local authorities, each UN agency provides specialised services to the refugees. 

• UNFPA provides support to people, mainly women, older people (53.5% of all refugees) and people with disabilities.  This includes needs assessment, medical and psychological services, counselling regarding gender-based violence, support in receiving documents and allowances. Hygiene kits, women and thermal underwear, etc. are provided as humanitarian aid.
  

  

UNFPA Orange Safe Spaces support self-help groups for older people, where they can access important information on available services and digital resources and take care of their physical and mental health. Psychological support, technical knowledge and skills on planning and delivering gender-sensitive services and preventing gender-based violence to was provided by UNFPA to social workers and volunteers working with refugees in Gomel, Brest and Grodno regions.  

• IOM delivered food and sanitary products, clothes and household goods, healthcare and psychological assistance services, transporting and housing support to more than 2,000 people. IOM also assists refugees from Ukraine to find employment, namely pays for professional training and retraining courses, helps with necessary documents.
  

  

• UNICEF and UNHCR, with the Belarusian Red Cross, assist with psychological support and the provision of targeted cash assistance to refugees from Ukraine, as well as voucher assistance to purchase basic necessities, especially important during the cold winter months.
  

  

• Near the border in Brest, at a bus station, UNICEF and UNHCR, operate an information point where families arriving in Belarus access information and legal assistance, protection services, psychological support, and other services and assistance.  This project is undertaken in cooperation with the city of Brest, Belarus Red Cross and the Refugee Counselling Services.
  

  

• WHO in Belarus is implementing a number of measures aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Belarusian Red Cross such as training for BRC team and volunteers in crisis intervention counselling, psychosocial support and first aid; purchasing goods for distance counselling for refugees, including healthcare, mental health and psychosocial counselling; purchasing rehabilitation equipment, diagnostic equipment and hygiene items for the refugees.
  

  

• UNDP works to strengthen capacity of national partners in delivering refugee response i.a. via volunteer management and capacity building. More than 160 national volunteers improved their knowledge and skills in responding to people in need. UNVs were engaged to increase the efficiency of information management and conduct a continuous assessment of multi-dimensional vulnerabilities of refugees. UNDP contributes to humanitarian efforts of partners by offering long-term development solutions, helps advance social cohesion and expands the involvement of local communities in refugee response. More than 200 refugees received livelihoods support in the framework of UNDP’s partnership with the Belarusian Red Cross.

By staying engaged, impartial and neutral in provision of humanitarian assistance in Belarus for the Ukrainian refugees, the UN system takes part in implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees and the Regional Refugee Response Plan adopted internationally. Although the share of the Belarus response is relatively small, the work provides essential support to the families and individuals fleeing the war and destruction in Ukraine. 

As UN, we believe the conflict must end. We hope that comprehensive, just and lasting peace solution is possible so that all Ukrainians wishing to go back home will be able to do so soon.