OCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Published purpose

January 2022 – Ukraine, an estimated 2.9 million people require humanitarian assistance due to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, with women and the elderly bearing the brunt of the ongoing hostilities. Access to essential services is severely hindered, particularly across the “contact line” in the country’s east. The shock of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic added pressure on a weakened health-care system while the provision of social services struggled. Protection remains a key concern with significant mine contamination and indiscriminate attacks on essential civilian infrastructure. With the support of Canada and other donors, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) oversees the coordination of the international humanitarian response in Ukraine, in partnership with national and international actors, to achieve more coherent and effective humanitarian action. OCHA fulfills its mandate through activities that include: (1) strengthening humanitarian leadership; (2) establishing and overseeing coordination systems; (3) monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (4) advocating on behalf of affected people; (5) supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (6) promoting emergency preparedness; and (7) mobilizing funding for humanitarian assistance.