Humanitarian crisis and harm reduction in Ukraine: Resources and information

Remi Decoster / Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect

News

Humanitarian crisis and harm reduction in Ukraine: Resources and information

28 March 2022

On 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The ensuing war has entailed dramatic costs with an incalculable and growing human toll. Sustaining the health and harm reduction responses serving people who use drugs in Ukraine and those fleeing the war must be a priority for all stakeholders. Below, you will find a list of links that we will continue to update in the coming weeks to provide reliable information, analysis and support resources on this ongoing emergency.

News articles & interviews (most recent first)

The volunteers risking their lives to help drug users in Ukraine
Delaney Nolan, Al Jazeera (1 June 2022)

US-backed group gets lifesaving meds to Ukrainians amid war
AP news wire, The Independent (27 March 2022)

Ukrainians displaced by Russian invasion struggling to access HIV and drug dependence treatment
Rosalie Hayes, Aidsmap (21 March 2022)

War deepens suffering for Ukraine’s drug users
Niko Vorobyov, Al Jazeera (16 March 2022)

War in Ukraine risks reversing gains in fight against HIV, tuberculosis
Carlo Martuscelli & Lily Hyde, Politico (15 March 2022)

Harm reduction during wartime in Ukraine
Peter Sarosi & Anton Basenko, DrugReporter (11 March 2022)

Ukraine’s opiate users: Russian invasion has severely disrupted access to drug-treatment services
Ian Hamilton & Julia Boxton, The Conversation (9 March 2022)

Organisational statements (most recent first)

UNAIDS warns that the war in Ukraine risks a humanitarian catastrophe for people living with and affected by HIV
UNAIDS (13 April 2022)

Fast-Track Cities Europe Mayors Declaration of Support for Ukrainian People Affected by HIV, TB, and Viral Hepatitis
Mayors of Fast-Track Cities from across Europe (4 April 2022)

A humanitarian corridor for Ukraine - Joint open letter
EHRA, HRI & 40+ CSOs (6 March 2022)

Global Call for Solidarity with People who Use Drugs in Ukraine
INPUD, PUD.UA/VOLNA, UNWUD/VONA (3 March 2022)

INCB statement on ensuring availability of and access to controlled medicines in Ukraine and neighbouring countries
International Narcotics Control Board (28 February 2022)

Fundraisers

Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) & Convictus Ukraine
Focus on the community of people who use drugs and harm reduction activists.

100% LIFE
Focus on medical equipment and emergency supplies.

Alliance for Public Health
Focus on supporting beneficiaries of existing programmes, refugees and sourcing medical supplies.

Further information

EMCDDA 4 Ukraine – Health Preparedness Hub
On this page, the EMCDDA has compiled resources for health professionals who provide services for people displaced from Ukraine to the European Union or other European Neighbourhood Area countries and Ukrainians who are displaced.

Support Ukraine

This portal by the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) provides practical information to refugees fleeing Ukraine as well as other resources on the ongoing humanitarian crisis more generally.

Response to challenges caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine
Alliance for Public Health provides weekly ‘situation reports’ on a wide range of issues related to health provision, including the state of the harm reduction response.

Regions

Translations