Ukraine: Insights and implications
The war on Ukraine has caused forced displacement on a scale and at a speed not witnessed in Europe since World War II. This issue seeks to address questions that have arisen out of the crisis, reflecting on the lessons learned from the immediate response and the implications for the international refugee and asylum system.
This issue is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian. We encourage you to share it with your networks. You are welcome to circulate or reproduce any articles in their entirety citing: Forced Migration Review issue 72.
There will be an online launch event on 17 October at 13:00 London/ 14:00 Brussels/ 15:00 Kyiv. We will provide Ukrainian and Russian interpretation upon request.
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Youth in Ukraine are supporting each other and their communities. Their experiences offer insights and coping strategies for all those dealing with the challenges of war.
The lessons that have emerged from the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive have implications far beyond the Ukraine refugee crisis.
A local municipality, a faith-based organisation and a secular grassroots organisation have combined their strengths and capabilities to provide for Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands.
Tens of thousands of people in the UK have opened their homes to Ukrainians. An examination of this historic welcome offers important insights for future schemes aimed at helping refugee groups and vulnerable people.
Lessons about collaboration and refugee inclusion from the legal community’s response to the needs of people displaced from Ukraine could help inform future responses.
Poland responded generously to the influx of refugees from Ukraine, providing significant access to its social protection system. Despite this, however, hardship among refugees persists. There are lessons to be drawn from Poland’s approach.
Ukrainian refugees settling in major cities in neighbouring countries require a more consistent, sustainable local response and integration opportunities.
Temporary protection mechanisms have offered Ukrainians safe harbour in the US but leave them in a precarious state of legal limbo.
Research with displaced Ukrainian children and adolescents demonstrates that humanitarian actors need to provide opportunities for them to express their concerns, feelings and opinions.
War has exacerbated the severe difficulties faced by stateless people in Ukraine. Barriers to accessing humanitarian aid, safe passage and protection need to be addressed.
Effective support for people fleeing the war in Ukraine requires an understanding of their language and communication needs and preferences.
IDPs with disabilities in Ukraine face heightened risks. More initiatives are needed that prioritise disability-inclusive approaches, employ data-driven decision-making, and actively involve people with disabilities in response efforts.
Humanitarian response in the current conflict needs to better recognise the diversity of experience among older Ukrainians, target assistance to their specific requirements, and provide support to them where they are.
The forced migration journeys of Black African students in Ukraine highlight the vulnerabilities that minority non-nationals experienced during the 2022 Russian invasion.
Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse is an integral part of the Ukraine refugee response. A number of policy implications, innovations and lessons for the ongoing response and for future crises have emerged.
Internal displacement in Ukraine brings with it increased risks of sexual and gender-based violence. Recent research findings offer recommendations to reduce risks in transit and to support internally displaced women with housing, access to work and mental health support.
With many risk factors for trafficking present in the Ukraine conflict, why does there appear not to have been – as yet – a surge in cases of trafficking?
The UN and its partners are grappling with ways to support the Government of Ukraine in promoting solutions to internal displacement, in line with the Action Agenda.
Localising the humanitarian response in Ukraine would improve the sustainability and reach of the overall response – and set a valuable precedent. Addressing barriers to localisation and Ukrainians demanding reform are key.
Five years after their initial displacement, Ukrainian IDPs show relatively high levels of posttraumatic growth; their experiences offer insights for practitioners seeking to promote psychosocial well-being among displaced populations.
Providing accessible and practical advice through digital platforms could support female IDPs dealing with the economic, psychosocial and health impacts of the war.
A well-managed Facebook group can mobilise hundreds of thousands of people to maximise peer-to-peer aid, be an effective real-time communication channel between organisations and volunteers, and serve as the focal point of an online refugee aid ecosystem.
With many Ukrainian refugees facing prolonged stays in host countries, they require effective access to decent work, education, and social and financial services.
The Temporary Protection Directive does not contribute to an effective integration process. Measures to facilitate refugee integration need to be put in place even if return is the preferred durable solution.