Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2026: Focus on supporting the most vulnerable

On 13 January in Kyiv, the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Ukraine for 2026 was presented.

The document outlines the main humanitarian priorities for the year, taking into account growing needs and limited resources. The primary focus is on frontline communities, internally displaced persons, older people, persons with disabilities, and people affected by shelling.

The Plan is based on four key priorities: support for people who remain close to the frontline; assistance to vulnerable people who have recently fled, including those evacuated; rapid response following shelling and attacks; and support for vulnerable internally displaced persons and people who risk being left without assistance within social protection systems.

Key areas of humanitarian support in 2026 include access to water and sanitation, food security, shelter, heating and winter assistance, cash assistance, and access to healthcare services. Assistance will focus on regions most affected by hostilities; in 2026, support will also cover Chernihiv region.

Special attention in the Plan is given to the localization of humanitarian response. National and local organizations remain key actors in delivering assistance on the ground. At the same time, coordination between humanitarian organizations and government authorities, needs-based assessments, and ensuring fair access to assistance remain essential.

Assistant Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale emphasized the importance of moving from planning to implementation.

“The most important thing now is to focus on implementing the Plan, continuously monitoring it and adjusting our work based on real needs. We need to move from discussions to action. I sincerely hope that we will not have to face the same humanitarian challenges again next year, and that Ukraine will be given the dignified chance it needs,” said Matthias Schmale.

During the event, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Ulyutin stressed that humanitarian assistance in 2026 must be as practical as possible and focused on people’s basic needs.

“Over recent years, humanitarian partners have taken on an enormous volume of work from supporting frontline communities and evacuations to assisting people after shelling and the most vulnerable groups among internally displaced persons. Today, the role of the state is not to duplicate humanitarian aid, but to integrate it into a coherent system of social support,” Denys Ulyutin noted.

The Minister also underlined the importance of coordination between the state and humanitarian partners, particularly in the arrangement of temporary accommodation. The government has already identified a list of facilities: from dormitories to social infrastructure, that, together with partners, can be adapted to accommodate people, with a focus on accessibility and basic living conditions.

Participants also underlined the importance of continued financial support for humanitarian programmes in 2026, given ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure and growing humanitarian risks.

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