In the first five months of 2025, humanitarian partners in Ukraine provided assistance to 3.5 million of the planned 6 million people, covering 57% of the overall target. However, there is a funding shortfall of $1.97 billion out of the $2.63 billion needed, which significantly limits the ability to meet the vital needs of the population, especially in frontline communities.
Funding and main donors
As of 31 May 2025, the Financial Tracking System (FTS) had registered $659 million in actual contributions, which is only 25% of the total amount needed. Among the ten largest donors, the European Union leads with $613.4 million, followed by the United States with $534.4 million, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation with $410.2 million, the European Commission for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) with $365.3 million, as well as Germany ($172.0 million), Canada ($130.9 million), Switzerland ($128.9 million), Norway ($86.5 million), Italy ($84.6 million) and Denmark ($57.9 million).
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Coverage by clusters
Humanitarian partners provided the most support in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, reaching 2.6 million people. Food security and livelihoods were provided for 1.8 million people, medical services and medicines were provided to 872,000 affected people, extensive repair and non-food kits were provided to 452,000 people, and psychological support and protection services were provided to 657,000 people. A total of 183,000 people participated in the multi-purpose cash assistance programme, while educational materials were distributed to 273,000 children and adults.
The situation on the front line and challenges
Intense shelling of densely populated areas in May resulted in over 1,000 civilian casualties, the second highest number this year. Residential buildings, schools, hospitals and transport infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv suffered significant damage, complicating the provision of basic services and increasing the vulnerability of communities. According to estimates by the International Organisation for Migration, large-scale displacement of citizens continued in the frontline regions of Sumy, Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk; thousands of evacuees required medical assistance, safe shelter and legal support, particularly in transit centres and temporary accommodation.
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The role of local partners and interagency convoys
Despite funding cuts, humanitarian organisations focused on four strategic areas: assisting the most vulnerable near the front line, supporting evacuations, responding to shelling emergencies, and assisting internally displaced persons. From January to May 2025, 23 inter-agency convoys delivered food, medical supplies, hygiene kits, and building materials to 33,000 people in frontline communities in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions. Local NGOs continue to perform the critical function of the last mile, delivering aid to the most remote villages and settlements.
Next steps and recommendations
The report emphasises that in order to reach 6 million people, humanitarian partners need to quickly close the funding gap by engaging the private sector in donations and stepping up government coordination. Inter-cluster integration needs to be strengthened, especially in the areas of water supply, health care and protection of vulnerable groups. Particular attention should be paid to monitoring the quality of service delivery, regular auditing and incident investigation to ensure the effectiveness and transparency of the response in Ukraine.
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