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Russia’s war in Ukraine has forced more than twelve million people from their homes. With the international community mobilising to distribute relief and essential services, we are supporting our partners by providing temporary shelters for the growing displaced population in Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Dispatch of shelters from our Poland warehouse to Ukraine April, 2022. ©Mova Film

The emergency in Central and Eastern Europe

Ukraine has been in a precarious security situation since 2014, following the Russian annexation of Crimea in eastern Ukraine. The situation escalated to a fully armed conflict when Russia launched a military offensive in February 2022, directly affecting at least eight oblasts (regions) in Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, and exacerbating the crisis in the eastern oblasts Donetsk and Luhansk.

Already with thousands of civilian casualties and a massive displacement event, the UN estimates that 28 million people will need humanitarian assistance within Ukraine.

Our response

Since UNHCR declared the conflict in Ukraine a level 3 emergency, we have been supporting our partners’ humanitarian initiatives by providing RHUs to shelter the growing displaced Ukrainian population. So far, we have delivered more than 800 RHU units to different locations in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries.

800+

RHU units delivered to our partners as of May 2022

RHUs ensuring distribution of essential services in Poland

The modest town of Medyka in the less prosperous southeast region of Poland has welcomed a large share of Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the war. Medyka is largely a transit stop, as refugees continue their journey towards the larger cities in Poland. UNHCR and UNICEF installed 2 RHUs to increase reception capacity, putting the RHUs to use as a protection office and child-friendly space.

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Two RHUs in the Medyka reception centre on the Polish/Ukrainian border serving as a child friendly space and a protection office, managed by UNICEF and UNHCR.

500 units delivered to support national response in Czechia

©UNHCR
  • More than 300,000 Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection status in Czechia, the highest number of temporary status registrations in Europe
  • While the crisis in Ukraine has seen unprecedented solidarity between civil society, national and international authorities, the population influx has put strain on national capacity to settle the growing number of border crossings, especially in urban areas
  • UNHCR responded the the Czech government’s appeal for assistance by delivering 500 RHU units, currently stored for contingency in a warehouse in the town of Zbiroh, located in western Czechia
  • The RHU units are reserved for prospective delivery to the regions in Czechia where the refugee population is swelling the most
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Immediate dispatch from Poland

Our temporary shelters are produced in accordance with EU standards, and stored in our warehouse in Gdańsk, Poland, less than 1000 kilometres from the western Ukrainian border. They can be dispatched immediately for rapid deployment where they are needed the most.

RHUs stocked in our warehouse in Poland. © Mova Film

Contact us

We are regularly monitoring updates on the situation in Ukraine, and are ready to support our partners in Central and Eastern Europe. Contact us today to learn more about our support and technical assistance.

Lucia Arias Kapetinic

Partnerships Manager (Americas, Africa, Europe)

Märta Aretakis Terne

Head of Communications

Tim de Haas

Head of Technology