More than 236,000 buildings in Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged during the war, and over 2.5 million housing units in total have become unavailable because of the armed conflict — roughly 10% of the country’s entire housing stock.
As reported by Ukrinform, this is stated in a report by the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), which describes the situation in Ukraine as an “unprecedented housing crisis.”
According to the report, the availability and affordability of housing have been severely affected by a lack of municipal housing combined with an insufficiently regulated rental market and the mass displacement of people fleeing the war.
IOM experts note that about 10.6 million Ukrainians — nearly a quarter of the country’s pre-war population — have been forced to leave their homes. Most of them have gone abroad. Two-thirds of the 3.7 million displaced people who remained in Ukraine struggle to pay for their new housing. “For many, their reliance on the rental market has exhausted family savings,” the report’s authors stated.
According to their estimates, displaced people often have to spend 50% or more of their income on rent.
Since the war in Ukraine continues, the report emphasizes that addressing the housing needs of displaced Ukrainians remains a critical priority.
“IOM is dedicated to helping internally displaced people, and the communities hosting them, build lasting futures. This includes training for new skills, connecting people with jobs, and securing stable homes,” said Robert Turner, Chief of the IOM Mission in Ukraine.
As reported, the Ministry of Social Policy, Families and Unity is working on a digital tool that will support internally displaced persons at every stage — from evacuation to integration within their communities.