The Ukrainian Red Cross has provided over UAH 420 million in cash assistance to vulnerable people

In 2024, the Ukrainian Red Cross implemented nine cash assistance programmes, supporting more than 26,000 people. The total amount of payments exceeded UAH 420 million.

“Cash assistance programmes play a critical role in supporting the most vulnerable people, especially in times of war. They give people the opportunity to address their most urgent needs and cover critical expenses in accordance with the defined eligibility criteria. We see how much this support changes lives, providing not only financial aid but also confidence in the future. It is important that these programmes complement existing social support mechanisms, reaching those who need additional assistance for various reasons,” says Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross.

This initiative has become vital for isolated elderly people, large families, internally displaced persons, families of missing persons, and those undergoing rehabilitation or in need of housing restoration. During the war, financial aid was particularly important, as people were able to decide on their own how to spend the money based on their most urgent needs. Some used it to pay for heating or buy firewood, while others bought medicines or winter clothes.

“Thanks to this support, we were able to stock up on firewood, pay for utilities, and buy the necessary medicines. Without it, it would have been extremely difficult for us, as choosing between warmth in the house and health is not something people should have to face in the 21st century. For me, it’s not just financial aid – it’s a reminder that we are not forgotten,” shares Andrii Kashnikov, a participant in the Winter Cash Assistance programme.

Some programmes were implemented throughout Ukraine, with the exception of the temporarily occupied areas, while others were implemented in specific regions, including Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, Poltava, Dnipro, Donetsk, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy.

The programmes were funded with the support of the British, German, Austrian, Danish, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swiss Red Crosses, as well as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

We stand by those in need and will continue to support those who need it most!