New York/Kyiv, March 6, 2025 -- Almost thirteen million people in Ukraine rely on life-saving humanitarian assistance. The suspension of U.S. foreign aid will be painfully felt by these people, warns the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which has been working in Ukraine -- particularly in the East -- since the war escalated. The IRC recently suffered a $10 million cut in U.S. government support for its programming. These cuts will have a devastating human cost and will also undermine efforts to drive stability.
The IRC has focused on populations stranded in war-torn areas of the country, bringing expertise in mobile medical support and child protection while also supporting partners in a range of activities, from de-mining to cash assistance. The IRC has invested more than $1.5 million in critical medicines and supplies for frontline areas -- health services that, along with other vital assistance, risk suspension if funding is not restored. In December alone, the IRC conducted nearly 3,000 medical consultations in the Dnipro and Kharkiv regions.
"Ukraine needs sustained funding to save lives and support livelihoods even amidst the war. Supporting Ukraine's civilian population is a moral and strategic imperative. Beyond the statistics of aid cuts, there are real people being affected -- and millions of lives at stake.
The suspensions and uncertainty around U.S. humanitarian aid means that primary healthcare services, including mobile health units and pharmacies, may no longer reach frontline areas. More than 30,000 people -- many of them elderly and living with chronic illnesses -- may lose access to essential medical care. Mental health support, including psychological aid for thousands of children and their families, will come to a halt.
"Solidarity has no expiration date, and no one should need a reminder that the humanitarian needs triggered by this war will far outlast the conflict itself. The U.S. - and the rest of the world - must continue to stand with the people of Ukraine. "