Ukraine: Helping families find refuge
When conflict erupted in 2022 and sent millions of families fleeing for their lives, Medair was there within days to welcome them with open arms and meaningful support.
Ongoing Emergency
Families in Ukraine are fleeing bombings and violence. The places they called home are being destroyed. We are there to help.
The needs
Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which immediately sent the country into chaos. Within moments, families’ lives were changed forever. They came in droves across the Polish border with nothing but what they could carry. With nowhere to go, nowhere to sleep, and nothing to eat, they needed shelter, health care, and safe spaces quickly.
13.5 million
People have been forced from their homes
82%
Percentage of refugees entering through Poland
17,6 million
People need humanitarian assistance to survive
Testimonial
“It's because of people like you that communities like ours can continue living their lives with dignity.”
Olha
92, Krasne, Ukraine
Our difference
When the conflict started, Medair was at Ukraine’s border with Poland within days to welcome and provide vital aid to exhausted and frightened families. We also had teams close to the frontlines inside Ukraine ready to help communities once it was safe to do so. Today, our teams continue to provide urgent health assistance, critical household supplies, and shelter support to affected families in multiple locations across western Ukraine.
396,147
People directly assisted in 2022
127,147
People benefited from restored health facilities
102,306
People received shelter assistance
Go deeper
Browse the latest updates and stories on the field.
Stories
Finding Peace Within: MHPSS Assistance in Eastern Ukraine
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A Journey of Compassion: From Private Sector to Humanitarian Leadership in Conflict Zones
After transitioning from the private sector to the humanitarian field, Marco has led impactful missions in conflict zones, culminating in a leadership role in Ukraine, driven by a commitment to compassion, teamwork, and faith. He took the time to share his journey with us.
Stories
Living amidst shelling
Oleksandr and Halyna, both in their seventies, lived in a peaceful village where their day-to-day was blissful, and uneventful – until one day, their house was struck by a missile, damaging the roof and foundations and leaving their picturesque house almost unrecognizable. Our team visited their home to listen to their story.
Stories
Slowly rebuilding in Ukraine
“First, we lost the dates and then the days of the week. It felt like one long day which would never come to its end”, says Svitlana.
Stories
Giving Hope
Supporting affected people with the distribution of shelter kits, cooking supplies, and personal hygiene supplies
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Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and foundations, we are able to restore life and hope in the world’s hardest-to-reach places.
Africa
Chad
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Ukraine
When conflict erupted in 2022 and sent millions of families fleeing for their lives, Medair was there within days to welcome them with open arms and meaningful support.
Europe & Central asia
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The sudden collapse of the Assad regime follows 13 years of conflict which has had devastating effects on communities in Syria. Deadly earthquakes in 2023 and significant displacement since November 2024, first from the conflict in Lebanon and then due to internal political shifts in Syria, have compounded humanitarian needs. Medair has been in country since 2015. Our commitment to support Syrian people has never failed. We are determined to help rebuild by restoring health services, safe water sources, and shelters for those in desperate need. Our offices are opening again and our teams are resuming work.
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Africa
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After decades of instability, DR Congo is still in the throes of crisis. Yet, Medair has stayed the course for more than 25 years to help save lives and strengthen communities.
Africa
Madagascar
Since 2002, Medair has helped communities in Madagascar strengthen their resilience to climate disasters while helping to improve and restore access to safe drinking water.
Africa
Kenya
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. Medair’s nutrition outreach teams are travelling to northern Kenya’s most remote villages to save lives from malnutrition and disease.
Europe & Central asia
Jordan
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Jordan as they struggle to rebuild their lives from the ground up.
Africa
Chad
Over 800,000 people are fleeing across the border. This massive influx is placing immense pressure on already strained resources. With limited support for refugees, Medair is on the ground providing essential WASH and Nutrition assistance.
DR Congo
After decades of instability, DR Congo is still in the throes of crisis. Yet, Medair has stayed the course for more than 25 years to help save lives and strengthen communities.
Kenya
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. Medair’s nutrition outreach teams are travelling to northern Kenya’s most remote villages to save lives from malnutrition and disease.
Madagascar
Since 2002, Medair has helped communities in Madagascar strengthen their resilience to climate disasters while helping to improve and restore access to safe drinking water.
Somalia
Medair has been responding to crises in Somalia since 2008, helping some of the most isolated communities access health care and safe water and protecting women and children from violence.
South Sudan
When the road stops, we keep going. Our teams travel by boat, canoe and plane to the most isolated and hardest-to-reach communities in South Sudan, cut off from vital services like health care, nutrition, and water.
Sudan
Violent clashes erupted once again in April 2023 around the capital, Khartoum. A staggering 4 million people fled their homes in just the first 100 days. Now, Sudan is once again in a full-blown humanitarian crisis and needs support to surv
America
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Asia
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Europe & Central asia
Afghanistan
Medair has been responding to the effects of crisis in Afghanistan since 1996. While the country remains in crisis today, we do not lose hope for a peaceful and flourishing future for the people of Afghanistan.
Jordan
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Jordan as they struggle to rebuild their lives from the ground up.
Lebanon
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Lebanon as they struggle to rebuild their lives after surviving a civil war. We care for families by helping them meet their most urgent needs.
Syria
The sudden collapse of the Assad regime follows 13 years of conflict which has had devastating effects on communities in Syria. Deadly earthquakes in 2023 and significant displacement since November 2024, first from the conflict in Lebanon and then due to internal political shifts in Syria, have compounded humanitarian needs. Medair has been in country since 2015. Our commitment to support Syrian people has never failed. We are determined to help rebuild by restoring health services, safe water sources, and shelters for those in desperate need. Our offices are opening again and our teams are resuming work.
Ukraine
When conflict erupted in 2022 and sent millions of families fleeing for their lives, Medair was there within days to welcome them with open arms and meaningful support.
Yemen
While similar crises fight for the world’s attention, millions of children and mothers in Yemen are fighting for their lives in the shadows. Medair is responding with life-saving nutrition services.
Oceania
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Past countries
Albania
Medair worked in Albania in 1998 and 1999.
Angola
Medair's engagement in Angola occurred in 2002 and later in 2018-2019.
Armenia
Medair extended support to Armenia in 1993 and 1994.
Bangladesh
Medair operated in Bangladesh in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2018, and 2019.
Central African Republic (C.A.R.)
Medair operated in C.A.R. in 2014.
Chechnya
Medair operated in Chechnya in 1995, 1996, and 2004.
Ecuador
Medair operated in Ecuador in 2016.
Haiti
Medair worked in Haiti from 2008 to 2009, 2010 to 2012, and 2016.
Honduras
Medair provided assistance in Honduras in 2020
India
Medair provided assistance in India in 2001.
Indonesia
Medair operated in Indonesia from 2006 to 2007 and later from 2008 to 2009, 2010 to 2012, and 2018.
Ingushetia
Medair provided assistance in Ingushetia in 1996.
Iran
Medair provided assistance in Iran in 2003.
Iraq
Medair provided assistance in Iraq in 1991, 1992, 2014
Kosovo
Medair operated in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999.
Liberia
Medair worked in Liberia in 1991.
Mozambique
Medair has been active in Mozambique since 2000, with ongoing operations until 2019.
Myanmar
Medair worked in Myanmar in 2016.
Nepal
Medair worked in Nepal from 2014 to 2015 and later in 2016 and 2018.
North Ossetia
Medair was involved in North Ossetia in 1995 and later in 2004.
Pakistan
Medair's involvement in Pakistan spans from 2005 to 2007 and later from 2016 to 2017.
Philippines
Medair started working in the Philippines in 2013 and has ongoing operations.
Rwanda
Medair provided assistance in Rwanda in 1994.
Sierra Leone
Medair provided assistance in Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2015.
Sri Lanka
Medair worked in Sri Lanka in 2004.
Turkiye
Medair began providing humanitarian aid in Turkiye after the earthquakes in 2023.
Uganda
Medair started working in Uganda in 1989, with operations continuing until 1990. We returned in 2000 and operated until 2003.
Vanuatu
Medair provided assistance in Vanuatu in 2015.
Zimbabwe
Medair operated in Zimbabwe in 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011-2012.