Minister Richmond announces Ukraine humanitarian funding for three Irish NGOs

Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond has announced that three Irish NGOs will receive €1 million in funding each to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance to people in Ukraine.

Concern, the Irish Red Cross and Trócaire will each receive €1 million in Irish Aid funding to deliver humanitarian projects in Ukraine. Representatives of each agency met with Minister Richmond today to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and how to maximise Ireland's impact.

Minister Richmond said:

Irish Aid is proud to provide this humanitarian funding to three trusted Irish organisations - Concern, the Irish Red Cross and Trócaire - for their vital projects in Ukraine. The grants will allow critical humanitarian funding to reach those most in need. The grants are a testament to each organisations' steadfast support to the Ukrainian people and their strong local partnerships. This funding is a critical part of Ireland's support for people in Ukraine and will deliver urgent and vital humanitarian relief.

Dominic Crowley, CEO of Concern, said:

With major damage to energy infrastructure across the country, the people of Ukraine are experiencing their toughest winter yet. We are reaching vulnerable families through cash assistance via community based groups, enabling them to meet the most urgent needs. Cash grants will be used primarily for heating repairs and solutions needed to endure the cold months, for shelter repair and to assist the evacuation of vulnerable individuals from frontline areas.

Under the new programme funded by Irish Aid, community-based Ukrainian organisations and groups can apply to Concern and its partners for funding to meet specific local needs, as they emerge.

Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross, said:

The Irish Red Cross is deeply grateful for the continued support of the Irish Government through Irish Aid. While humanitarian aid often focuses on physical needs, the invisible wounds of war are just as devastating. This vital funding allows the Red Cross to scale our mental health interventions ensuring that psychological recovery remains at the very heart of the humanitarian response.

Seán Farrell, CEO of Trócaire, said:

With the support of Irish Aid, Trócaire and our local partner Caritas-Spes Ukraine will deliver a 12-month, community-led cash and winterisation programme in 2026, ensuring vulnerable, displaced and frontline families in Kharkiv and Odesa can meet basic needs and stay warm through another brutal winter.

This total fund of €3 million will support Trócaire, Concern and the Irish Red Cross to support communities in Ukraine in partnership with local Ukrainian organisations and networks. This funding is a component of the €36million Ukraine package of support announced by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in September 2025.

Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2022, Ireland has provided over €173million in humanitarian and stabilisation support, and over €100million in humanitarian funding to trusted partners including the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, UN agencies and INGOs.

ENDS

14 January 2026

Notes:

• Since February 2022 Ireland has provided extensive humanitarian assistance and stabilisation supports in response to the Ukraine crisis totalling approximately €173 million. This includes €35.4 million announced of September 2025, comprising humanitarian (€23.5M), recovery (€11M), and peace supports (€1M). A proportion of this support has gone towards responding to the effects of the Ukraine crisis in Moldova, with €2M of the €35.5M funding in 2025 going directly to projects in Moldova and funding also supporting the refugee regional response.
• Nearly half of this funding has been provided to UN agencies (UNHCR, OCHA, UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, WFP, and OHCHR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), largely in humanitarian assistance and often supporting the work of local Ukrainian partners. Ireland's support to Ukraine includes significant stabilisation supports to respond to both existing and emerging needs across critical sectors.
• The 2025 humanitarian Ukraine grants were launched and funds mobilised by Ireland's dedicated Humanitarian budget, which works complementary to the International Civil Society Programme and the Civil Society Fund, which the organisations receive annual funding from the Department to complete humanitarian and development programming. In 2025, Ireland provided over €330milllion in humanitarian funding.