The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced a suspension of several support programs for newly arrived Ukrainian refugees due to reduced funding, particularly from the U.S., which previously accounted for 40% of the organization's budget.

Source: UNHCR press release

Details: On Friday, April 25, UNHCR reported a decrease in assistance for newly arrived refugees in Ukraine due to reduced funding from the U.S. American support, which made up 40% of the organization's total budget in 2024, has been halted, forcing the UN to limit several critical humanitarian programs.

"Some of the programs we previously implemented thanks to generous U.S. support are now on hold," said UNHCR representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing.

Among the most significant losses are programs for psychological and social support, emergency housing materials, and financial assistance. According to the agency, other Western donors have also reduced their funding levels as they shifted focus to increasing defense spending.

As a result, the agency stated that its call for $3.32 billion to support 8.2 million people in Ukraine has been funded only 25%.

"We have had to reduce the number of people we prioritize. We urge donors to provide the necessary funding so we can continue assisting those in most need," said Billing.

Specifically: "Since January, over 3,500 individuals have passed through the transit center in Pavlograd. Last month, more than 4,200 evacuees arrived at the transit center in Sumy, where UNHCR and our partners provide humanitarian support to newly arrived refugees. These figures are only part of the total number of new arrivals. Over 200,000 people have left their homes from August 2024 to early 2025."