Ukraine's war victims need our help

As diplomacy continues, hopefully, to end the war in Ukraine, more must be done to help conflict victims. Humanitarian aid funding has gone down for Ukraine even though the needs are massive with Russia continuing its brutal attacks. The international community needs to quickly increase the funding to help Ukraine.

“Humanitarian needs across Ukraine continue to deepen as intensified attacks on populated areas result in increased civilian casualties and widespread damage to critical civilian infrastructure — particularly in front-line areas" stated a recent U.N. report.

Families in Ukraine still live with the terror of the world's second most powerful military attacking them. When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it unleashed the biggest military assault in Europe since World War II.

For those of us who are far away from the fighting, it's hard to imagine the horror Ukrainians are experiencing. Missile and drone attacks regularly hit Ukraine’s cities and towns, sometimes hundreds on a single day. Civilians, including children, have been killed in these bombings. Ukraine has had to endure more than three years of deadly attacks and have fought bravely to resist Russia’s invasion.

The war has driven Ukrainians from their homes and livelihoods. Millions have been displaced and some have fled to other countries. The trauma of war stays with victims, especially the children.

"Apartment buildings, hospitals, schools and kindergartens have been destroyed, public buses and trains have been hit. To stay safe, people are spending entire nights in underground shelters, terrified. One woman in our psychosocial support program in Dnipro told us that her 9-year-old daughter now asks her almost daily: ‘Mom, will we have time to hide?’” said Michael McGrath, CARE Ukraine’s Country Director.

Hunger and poverty, which always accompany war, are causing suffering among Ukrainians too. The U.N. World Food Program and other relief agencies are working inside Ukraine to help civilians, but are facing shortages in funding. The world’s attention has moved away from the war victims.

The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) says it "will suspend its complementary cash assistance programme in August, due to funding shortfalls." This program helped Ukrainians living near the front lines

Other key WFP programs that need funding include school meals for Ukrainian children. Because of the war many families have suffered loss of livelihoods and cannot afford school lunches for their kids. WFP makes sure Ukrainian children are fed and can learn in school. WFP and partners also help restore farmland and remove mines planted during the war. Ukraine's farms are also critical to supplying other countries with food, but agriculture has been damaged by the fighting.

WFP, CARE, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF and many other charities need to have enough funding to help Ukrainians. Surely, the world can do more to support humanitarian aid in Ukraine as we await an end to the war.

It's important the world remain united in strong support of Ukraine and keep up the pressure on Russia to end the brutal conflict. So many lives have been lost and resources wasted in this unnecessary and tragic war in Ukraine.

Everyone can do their part to help Ukraine’s war victims. You can start by asking your elected officials to support Ukraine and provide humanitarian funding. With the war in Ukraine and many other conflicts taking place, global humanitarian aid funding should be increasing.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His writings have been published by the Washington Post, Newsweek, History News Network and many other news outlets.