HIAS in Ukraine

Read the latest about HIAS’ response to the crisis in Ukraine.

Originally established in 2001 to assist Jewish migrants emigrating from Ukraine to the United States, HIAS’ presence today is through a partnership with Right to Protection (R2P), an independent Ukrainian NGO based in Kyiv with offices across Ukraine. R2P provides legal assistance as well as monitors and advocates for improvements in the legal and regulatory framework affecting internally displaced people (IDPs); conflict-affected persons residing in or near non-government controlled territories; refugees; asylum seekers; and stateless persons.

REFUGEES IN UKRAINE

Before the 2022 crisis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that in Ukraine there were at least 1.6 million conflict-affected persons; 734,000 internally displaced people, nearly 36,000 stateless persons, and nearly 5,000 refugees and asylum seekers.  A majority of refugees and asylum seekers in Ukraine are from Afghanistan, Syria, the former Soviet Union, Iraq, and Somalia, but refugees also originate from thirty other countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Somalia. 

SERVICES IN UKRAINE

As a result of the 2014 Russian incursion to Crimea and the subsequent armed conflict in East Ukraine, more than a million Ukrainian citizens fled to Ukrainian-controlled territory. In partnership with UNHCR and the government of Ukraine, HIAS supports R2P’s monitoring of the situation to ensure the rights and safety of the displaced, legal assistance, and advocacy for the creation of a comprehensive legal framework for them.

 

R2P advocates for and provides legal counseling and translation services to refugees to help them through the long and difficult process of applying for asylum in Ukraine. It also represents those seeking asylum in Ukraine’s court system with expertise in assisting unaccompanied child asylum seekers. R2P develops the Ukrainian civil society by building the capacity of grassroots community-based organizations in East Ukraine. As part of the community-based protection R2P works with various communities of IDPs, stateless, and refugees through legal awareness trainings. R2P invests a lot of effort to improve the performance of the Ukrainian government on migration-related rights issues and service provision.

 

HIAS’ services are free. If someone tries to charge you for services claiming they represent HIAS, please report it at our confidential email address: ethics@hias.org. HIAS has a zero-tolerance policy on fraud and corruption. 

For any other inquiries please email us at info@hias.org.