Latest news with #LindholmBilling
Euronews
12-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
UNHCR tries to help millions of Ukrainian refugees stay close to home
The Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced almost 10 million people to flee their homes, with about 3.8 million displaced within the country and 5.6 million abroad, but most of them want to stay close to their homes, the UN refugee agency's representative for Ukraine said. The war between Ukraine and Russia is continuing with "increased intensity" so the continuation of international support funding a humanitarian response is crucial, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Karolina Lindholm Billing said on Friday. "At the moment, most who are newly displaced remain within the country and that's what most people prefer to do as well: to stay as close as possible to their home regions," Lindholm Billing told the AP in an interview. The UNHCR representative stressed that every day the organisation and its local partners help people who are victims of aerial attacks, including recent strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv. "People evacuating from front line areas need support. But at the same time, we have to continue helping Ukraine's immediate recovery, so that people who want to stay in Ukraine can actually do that," Lindholm Billing said. As participants in the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, European leaders urged private business and equity to invest in rebuilding Ukraine now, even as Russia accelerates its war effort. The conference is expected to finalise individual deals of guarantees and grants to unlock more than €10 billion in investments. The European Commission announced the creation of the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the largest equity fund to date to support the country. Countries prepared to provide troops for a post-war stabilisation force in Ukraine also agreed to set up a headquarters in Paris to facilitate a rapid deployment after the war ends. Russia recently intensified a series of long-range Shahed drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, which often also include ballistic and cruise missiles as well as powerful glide bombs. June brought the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded. Russia launched 10 times more drones and missiles in June than in the same month last year, the UN human rights mission in Ukraine said on Thursday. Lindholm Billing said UNHCR is working with Ukraine's government on a "winter response plan," which will include cash assistance for vulnerable families to pay for firewood, coal and briquettes to warm homes in front line areas where energy systems are damaged. "We have another winter coming up and we know that the cold weather adds another layer of risk to people. So it's going to be crucial to also provide support for Ukraine's energy systems, but also for individual households," she said.
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
UN refugee agency tries to help millions of displaced Ukrainians stay close to home
ROME (AP) — The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced almost 10 million people to flee their homes, with about 3.8 million displaced within the country and 5.6 million abroad, but most of them want to stay close to their homes, the U.N. refugee agency's representative for Ukraine said. The war between Russia and Ukraine is continuing with 'increased intensity' so the continuation of international support funding a humanitarian response is crucial, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees representative Karolina Lindholm Billing said Friday. 'At the moment, most who are newly displaced remain within the country and that's what most people prefer to do as well: to stay as close as possible to their home regions,' Lindholm Billing told The Associated Press. The UNHCR representative stressed that every day the organization and its local partners help people who are victims of aerial attacks, including recent strikes on Kiev and Kharkiv . 'People evacuating from frontline areas need support. But at the same time, we have to continue helping Ukraine's immediate recovery, so that people who want to stay in Ukraine can actually do that,' Lindholm Billing said. As participants in the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference gathered in Rome Thursday and Friday, European leaders urged private business and equity to invest in rebuilding Ukraine now, even as Russia accelerates its war effort. The conference is expected to finalize individual deals of guarantees and grants to unlock more than 10 billion euros (around $12 billion) in investments. The European Commission, for its part, announced the creation of the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the largest equity fund to date to support the country. Countries prepared to provide troops for a future stabilization force in Ukraine also agreed to set up a headquarters in Paris to facilitate a rapid deployment after the war ends. Russia recently intensified a series of long-range Shahed drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, which often also include ballistic and cruise missiles as well as powerful glide bombs. June brought the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded. Russia launched 10 times more drones and missiles in June than in the same month last year, the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said Thursday. Lindholm Billing said UNHCR is working with Ukraine's government on a 'winter response plan,' which will include cash assistance for vulnerable families to pay for firewood, coal and briquettes to warm homes in frontline areas where energy systems are damaged. 'We have another winter coming up and we know that the cold weather adds another layer of risk to people. So it's going to be crucial to also provide support for Ukraine's energy systems, but also for individual households,' she said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
11-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
UN refugee agency tries to help millions of displaced Ukrainians stay close to home
ROME (AP) — The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced almost 10 million people to flee their homes, with about 3.8 million displaced within the country and 5.6 million abroad, but most of them want to stay close to their homes, the U.N. refugee agency's representative for Ukraine said. The war between Russia and Ukraine is continuing with 'increased intensity" so the continuation of international support funding a humanitarian response is crucial, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees representative Karolina Lindholm Billing said Friday. 'At the moment, most who are newly displaced remain within the country and that's what most people prefer to do as well: to stay as close as possible to their home regions,' Lindholm Billing told The Associated Press. The UNHCR representative stressed that every day the organization and its local partners help people who are victims of aerial attacks, including recent strikes on Kiev and Kharkiv. 'People evacuating from frontline areas need support. But at the same time, we have to continue helping Ukraine's immediate recovery, so that people who want to stay in Ukraine can actually do that,' Lindholm Billing said. As participants in the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference gathered in Rome Thursday and Friday, European leaders urged private business and equity to invest in rebuilding Ukraine now, even as Russia accelerates its war effort. The conference is expected to finalize individual deals of guarantees and grants to unlock more than 10 billion euros (around $12 billion) in investments. The European Commission, for its part, announced the creation of the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the largest equity fund to date to support the country. Countries prepared to provide troops for a future stabilization force in Ukraine also agreed to set up a headquarters in Paris to facilitate a rapid deployment after the war ends. Russia recently intensified a series of long-range Shahed drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, which often also include ballistic and cruise missiles as well as powerful glide bombs. June brought the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded. Russia launched 10 times more drones and missiles in June than in the same month last year, the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said Thursday. Lindholm Billing said UNHCR is working with Ukraine's government on a 'winter response plan,' which will include cash assistance for vulnerable families to pay for firewood, coal and briquettes to warm homes in frontline areas where energy systems are damaged. 'We have another winter coming up and we know that the cold weather adds another layer of risk to people. So it's going to be crucial to also provide support for Ukraine's energy systems, but also for individual households,' she said.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
UN refugee agency tries to help millions of displaced Ukrainians stay close to home
ROME (AP) — The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced almost 10 million people to flee their homes, with about 3.8 million displaced within the country and 5.6 million abroad, but most of them want to stay close to their homes, the U.N. refugee agency's representative for Ukraine said. The war between Russia and Ukraine is continuing with 'increased intensity' so the continuation of international support funding a humanitarian response is crucial, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees representative Karolina Lindholm Billing said Friday. 'At the moment, most who are newly displaced remain within the country and that's what most people prefer to do as well: to stay as close as possible to their home regions,' Lindholm Billing told The Associated Press. The UNHCR representative stressed that every day the organization and its local partners help people who are victims of aerial attacks, including recent strikes on Kiev and Kharkiv. 'People evacuating from frontline areas need support. But at the same time, we have to continue helping Ukraine's immediate recovery, so that people who want to stay in Ukraine can actually do that,' Lindholm Billing said. As participants in the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference gathered in Rome Thursday and Friday, European leaders urged private business and equity to invest in rebuilding Ukraine now, even as Russia accelerates its war effort. The conference is expected to finalize individual deals of guarantees and grants to unlock more than 10 billion euros (around $12 billion) in investments. The European Commission, for its part, announced the creation of the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the largest equity fund to date to support the country. Countries prepared to provide troops for a future stabilization force in Ukraine also agreed to set up a headquarters in Paris to facilitate a rapid deployment after the war ends. Russia recently intensified a series of long-range Shahed drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, which often also include ballistic and cruise missiles as well as powerful glide bombs. June brought the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded. Russia launched 10 times more drones and missiles in June than in the same month last year, the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said Thursday. Lindholm Billing said UNHCR is working with Ukraine's government on a 'winter response plan,' which will include cash assistance for vulnerable families to pay for firewood, coal and briquettes to warm homes in frontline areas where energy systems are damaged. 'We have another winter coming up and we know that the cold weather adds another layer of risk to people. So it's going to be crucial to also provide support for Ukraine's energy systems, but also for individual households,' she said.
Scoop
08-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
Ukraine: UN Refugee Agency Helps Repair Homes Amid Ongoing Conflict
8 July 2025 In the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, housing remains one of the country's most urgent humanitarian and recovery challenges. The destruction has been widespread and ongoing. According to the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, 13 per cent of Ukraine's housing stock has been damaged since February 2022, impacting an estimated 2.5 million families. More than buildings In coordination with Ukrainian authorities and partners, UNHCR has invested over $114 million in durable housing solutions since July 2022, supporting both durable home repairs and emergency shelter assistance. 'By helping repair houses and apartments, we are enabling people to stay in or return to their homes – places that hold profound meaning, often passed down through generations,' saidKarolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR's representative in Ukraine. 'These are not just buildings. These are treasured spaces where couples raised their children, families celebrated milestones, cared for older relatives and built their lives together,' she said. UNHCR's support includes a range of solutions: contracting local builders, providing construction materials or offering cash assistance to homeowners. Repairs may include roofs, windows, insulation and in some cases, major reconstruction. The agency also helps restore common areas in apartment buildings. Emergency shelter and long-term needs UNHCR also provides emergency shelter kits – tarpaulin, wooden boards, nails and other materials – to help protect homes from further weather damage. Since 2022, more than 470,000 people have received such kits. With millions still internally displaced – many from areas under temporary occupation and with little prospect of return – UNHCR supports broader shelter options, including restoring social housing, repairing rural homes and refurbishing collective centres for the most vulnerable.
