The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created one of the largest humanitarian crises in Europe since World War Two. As hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing their homes in hopes of reaching the borders or escaping the escalating conflict, the UK Government has pledged a total of GBP 220 million in humanitarian aid.

The UK humanitarian aid package will help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating situation and create a lifeline for Ukrainians with access to necessities and medical supplies.

“We as the international community have a responsibility to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Last month, the UK provided GBP 100 million of Official Development Assistance funding to bolster the Ukrainian economy and reduce Ukraine’s reliance on Russian gas imports. “Britain is at the forefront of efforts to supply life-saving humanitarian aid, as well as political, economic and defensive support,” noted Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

The UK aid-funded Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT), which is managed by Palladium, is providing the UK Government with capacity and specialist expertise for the humanitarian response in Ukraine.

“We’re in Poland, on the border with Ukraine where thousands of people have been crossing over each night,” reported Palladium’s Laura Highton, a member of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s humanitarian team where she was stationed in South-eastern Poland at the border crossing point at Medyka, the busiest along Poland’s 300 mile border with Ukraine.

“The UK has deployed a humanitarian field team to provide assistance, and we delivered urgently needed medical supplies across the border into Ukraine. Further deliveries are on their way.”

Exact numbers of how many people are trapped by fighting or those on the move displaced by the conflict are still unknown. But the latest reports estimate that 2.2 million refugees have so far arrived in nearby European countries due to the conflict.

The UK support comes as the Red Cross Movement launched appeals for global support to deal with the unfolding humanitarian emergency that could see up to 7 million people displaced as a result of the Russian invasion.

As of 10 March, 227 pallets containing more than 600,000 items of medical supplies and medicine have been delivered to Ukraine from the UK. “We’ve been working with local and international actors and bringing in our flights daily to meet up with the trucks so that they can get to the border.” said Sarah-Jane More, a member of HSOT on the ground in Poland.

She adds that the shipments have included pharmaceuticals and community wound care packs. The team expects to receive more medicine supplies to help those affected in Ukraine.

Palladium manages the implementation of the Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT), a program funded with UK aid from the British people. HSOT provides the UK government with capacity and specialist expertise to support effective responses to sudden-onset disasters, crises, and complex emergencies around the world. For more information on HSOT’s work, visit their LinkedIn or contact info@thepalladiumgroup.com.