Laura Kyrke Smith is UK Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee.
It has been exactly one year of war in Ukraine. The war has triggered a humanitarian crisis within Ukraine. It has caused the movement of refugees across Europe on a scale unknown since the Second World War. And it has contributed to a global food crisis with life-threatening impact from East Africa to Afghanistan. But while anniversaries are typically a time to reflect, this must be a time for action.
First, action for people who are inside Ukraine. With renewed waves of violence and escalating Russian missile attacks amidst harsh, freezing winter conditions, over 18 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance. Violations of international humanitarian law have become routine, with attacks on homes, schools and hospitals. 50 per cent of Ukraine’s power grid is damaged by missile strikes, leaving huge numbers of people without access to electricity, heating or running water.
The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) efforts to deliver aid inside Ukraine are often hindered by shelling and infrastructure damage. But in part thanks to the generosity of the British public and other donors, help does continue to reach people. But what these aid efforts don’t address is the need to end the acts of violence against civilians and civilian infrastructure that cause the civilian causalities and humanitarian need in the first place, and that’s where action now needs to focus.
That starts with the UK, US and European allies calling out impunity and pushing for violations of international humanitarian law to be investigated and perpetrators ultimately held to account.
The second drive for action must be for the eight million Ukrainians who fled the country and are unable to return home, including the tens of thousands who came to the UK. Many have been generously hosted by British families but now face an uncertain future. While some may be able to go home, the UK government must solidify its commitment to those who cannot, including giving them leave to remain in the UK and offering enhanced support for their integration.
This is the humane response but it’s also what British people want, and not just for refugees from Ukraine: New YouGov polling – carried out for the IRC in January this year – shows that 61 per cent of the public are in favour of the Government increasing employment support for refugees and 64 per cent back more English language support. And all the evidence shows that in time refugees become a net benefit to the economy as well as to society.
Third, this is the moment for action for people feeling the effects of the war in Ukraine across the world. From spiralling energy prices across Europe to extreme hunger in East Africa, the interconnectedness – and interdependence – of our world has never been more obvious, or more dangerous.
Seven of the countries identified in the IRC’s Watchlist 2023 report, which ranks countries most likely to suffer humanitarian deterioration in the coming year, imported an average of 66 per cent of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine. Those imports have either stopped or slowed and food prices have risen sharply. This figure rises to 90 per cent of wheat imports for Somalia, which today is facing famine in part because of the far-reaching impacts of the war, coupled with climate change, economic shocks and internal conflict.
Historically, Britain has proudly led humanitarian relief efforts in East Africa and many other countries. Today, pressures on the aid budget mean that is not the case. But tight budgets don’t prevent diplomatic action from the UK government, for example to reinvigorate the UN’s high-level task force on preventing famine, to raise alarm, gather data and mobilise resources before it’s too late. It is also essential that the UK ring-fences at least half of its remaining aid budget for fragile and conflict affected countries like Somalia, where UK support is most needed and can have the greatest impact.
The rallying of support for Ukraine in the last year is testament to what can be achieved when there is public understanding and political will to act. This coming year will be the test of whether that support is here to stay – for Ukrainians and for those feeling the effects of this devastating war across the globe.
Laura Kyrke Smith is UK Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee.
It has been exactly one year of war in Ukraine. The war has triggered a humanitarian crisis within Ukraine. It has caused the movement of refugees across Europe on a scale unknown since the Second World War. And it has contributed to a global food crisis with life-threatening impact from East Africa to Afghanistan. But while anniversaries are typically a time to reflect, this must be a time for action.
First, action for people who are inside Ukraine. With renewed waves of violence and escalating Russian missile attacks amidst harsh, freezing winter conditions, over 18 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance. Violations of international humanitarian law have become routine, with attacks on homes, schools and hospitals. 50 per cent of Ukraine’s power grid is damaged by missile strikes, leaving huge numbers of people without access to electricity, heating or running water.
The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) efforts to deliver aid inside Ukraine are often hindered by shelling and infrastructure damage. But in part thanks to the generosity of the British public and other donors, help does continue to reach people. But what these aid efforts don’t address is the need to end the acts of violence against civilians and civilian infrastructure that cause the civilian causalities and humanitarian need in the first place, and that’s where action now needs to focus.
That starts with the UK, US and European allies calling out impunity and pushing for violations of international humanitarian law to be investigated and perpetrators ultimately held to account.
The second drive for action must be for the eight million Ukrainians who fled the country and are unable to return home, including the tens of thousands who came to the UK. Many have been generously hosted by British families but now face an uncertain future. While some may be able to go home, the UK government must solidify its commitment to those who cannot, including giving them leave to remain in the UK and offering enhanced support for their integration.
This is the humane response but it’s also what British people want, and not just for refugees from Ukraine: New YouGov polling – carried out for the IRC in January this year – shows that 61 per cent of the public are in favour of the Government increasing employment support for refugees and 64 per cent back more English language support. And all the evidence shows that in time refugees become a net benefit to the economy as well as to society.
Third, this is the moment for action for people feeling the effects of the war in Ukraine across the world. From spiralling energy prices across Europe to extreme hunger in East Africa, the interconnectedness – and interdependence – of our world has never been more obvious, or more dangerous.
Seven of the countries identified in the IRC’s Watchlist 2023 report, which ranks countries most likely to suffer humanitarian deterioration in the coming year, imported an average of 66 per cent of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine. Those imports have either stopped or slowed and food prices have risen sharply. This figure rises to 90 per cent of wheat imports for Somalia, which today is facing famine in part because of the far-reaching impacts of the war, coupled with climate change, economic shocks and internal conflict.
Historically, Britain has proudly led humanitarian relief efforts in East Africa and many other countries. Today, pressures on the aid budget mean that is not the case. But tight budgets don’t prevent diplomatic action from the UK government, for example to reinvigorate the UN’s high-level task force on preventing famine, to raise alarm, gather data and mobilise resources before it’s too late. It is also essential that the UK ring-fences at least half of its remaining aid budget for fragile and conflict affected countries like Somalia, where UK support is most needed and can have the greatest impact.
The rallying of support for Ukraine in the last year is testament to what can be achieved when there is public understanding and political will to act. This coming year will be the test of whether that support is here to stay – for Ukrainians and for those feeling the effects of this devastating war across the globe.