Over two and a half years into the war, the continued fighting has created extremely challenging conditions for civilians, particularly in the East of Ukraine.
Aerial attacks, air alarms, power cuts and destruction of critical infrastructure are part of daily life for many people, leaving some with no choice but to leave their homes in search of safety. In some parts of the country, the peak of the humanitarian crisis has stabilized as communities adjust to this new “normal” and plan for recovery and reconstruction.
At the outset of the crisis, international humanitarian actors provided a significant amount of support for those affected by the war, and while Ukraine is still a priority for the international donor community, funding for the crisis response is shrinking and will likely continue to reduce. Planning for recovery and reconstruction in some areas of the country has begun, but with limited opportunities for people affected by the war and civil society to engage in the decision-making process.
Ukrainian communities and civil society have always been and continue to be at the forefront of responding to the humanitarian needs within their communities. With the international support and the strength shown by Ukrainian civil society in responding to the crisis, it was hoped by many that the response would be a turning point for a humanitarian model that was rooted in local humanitarian leadership. Instead, despite the number of commitments that have been made by the international community to localize humanitarian responses, Ukraine risks being a missed opportunity to further the localization agenda.
From the outset, Oxfam’s response to the Ukraine crisis has been grounded in humanitarian and feminist principles, and has prioritized enabling local humanitarian leadership. Since the escalation of the war in 2022, Oxfam has worked in partnership with 43 organizations and has reached over 2.4 million people affected by the war in Ukraine.
Moving forward, Oxfam’s will deepen its focus on local leadership with a vision towards a future where Oxfam no longer has a presence in Ukraine. In order to truly shift power to Ukrainian communities and organizations, the international community must take a step aside and enable local leadership. The next phase of Oxfam’s Ukraine crisis response will prioritize putting principles into action.
