H2H Network Ukraine Crisis Response

Humanitarian access and security are key issues for the humanitarian community in Ukraine, with aid workers facing extreme levels of risk and insecurity while seeking to reach populations impacted by the conflict. H2H members are supporting the humanitarian actors to adapt to the rapidly changing security and access environment. Insecurity Insight is providing situation reports on attacks on education and healthcare facilities, including collaboration with MapAction who, alongside several members are responding to needs for geospatial data in Ukraine. The Humanitarian Logistics Association and Bioport are coordinating logistics solutions in transportation to surrounding countries, particularly focused on the high volume of goods in kind. Other members work on medical logistics, and information management support (see also below).

Ensuring that the humanitarian community remains accountable to people affected by crises is a priority for the H2H Network. In the Ukraine crisis, members are particularly focused on increasing access to information for refugee populations arriving in neighbouring countries, on protection, and on capacity building for national and local actors unfamiliar with humanitarian response and protection needs. For example, Translators Without Borders offers a guide to humanitarian interpretation in English and Polish and key PSEA principles, in Ukrainian and Russian. DEMAC is facilitating communication and coordination between national NGOs and diaspora organizations, as well as linking diaspora organizations with clusters to ensure that diaspora networks are included in updated information.

Ensuring affected populations have access to timely and accurate information is central to an effective response, particularly in a contested information environment, where misinformation and disinformation are prevalent. H2H members' experience in countering misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic provides lessons relevant for the Ukraine response. BBC MediaAction is working to address misinformation that impacts humanitarian response, and Fondation Hirondelle is contributing to the emergency operations of independent Ukrainian media, as well as to the basic information needs of displaced populations. Other organisations provide emergency funds for journalists and coordinate capacities in communication.

The situation in the Ukraine crisis region is highly fluid and agencies are operating with scarce and inadequate information with high levels of miss and disinformation related to the crisis and the role of principles humanitarian actors. Building on extensive experience from previous crises, H2H Network members are supporting decision-making and response quality by providing information and analysis across various technical areas. IMPACT Initiatives are disseminating daily information products, which have become central in the response, alongside extensive analysis being made available by ACAPS. MapAction, HOT OSM, and Data Friendly Space are working with partners to offer mapping and analysis to improve the response.

The size and complexity of the ongoing Ukraine crisis response, including the prominent role of state authorities and civil society in neighbouring countries, highlights the need to support local capacity. To support this, RedR is seeking to deploy a Rapid Onset Localisation Team (ROLT), to strengthen local capacity and quality, and to assist local organisations in engaging more effectively with humanitarian coordination structures. This approach was in part developed through the H2H Get Ready Fund. In addition, DEMAC is working to connect community-based diaspora organisations with the humanitarian ecosystem, and Sphere is supporting volunteers and other responders with humanitarian standards training.