UN seeks $1.7 billion in urgent humanitarian aid to Ukraine

The United Nations launches an emergency appeal for $1.7 billion to provide urgent humanitarian aid to people caught up in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and refugees fleeing the fighting.

The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while it projects that more than four million Ukrainian refugees may need help in neighboring countries in the coming months.

“This is the darkest hour for the people of Ukraine,” UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths says in a statement. “The crisis has turned very ugly, very fast. We must turn that initial shock and disbelief and uncertainty about the days to come into compassion and solidarity with the millions of ordinary Ukrainians who now need emergency relief and protection.”