Ukraine needs $39 billion to restore social protection sector

Ukraine has faced huge losses in the social protection sector as a result of the war, and $39 billion is needed to restore this sector. These data were published in the results of the fourth rapid assessment of damage and needs for reconstruction of Ukraine (RDNA 4), according to the press service of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.

The losses in the social protection sector are estimated at $500 million, in particular, this concerns damaged or destroyed social infrastructure. However, the costs of reconstruction exceed these losses by more than seventy times and amount to $39 billion. This amount includes financing social programs, support for vulnerable groups of the population, development of the social protection system and restoration of human capital.

The Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Oksana Zholnovych, noted that “not only the figures of losses are important, but also the fate of people who have difficulties in accessing social services due to the war.” According to her, the main task is to effectively support those who need help the most and to make social policy a driver of social resilience and development.

The war has hit women, people with disabilities, children, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the elderly hardest. As of the end of 2024, about 4.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were registered in Ukraine, and more than 6.8 million Ukrainians remain abroad. The authorities have introduced a number of mechanisms to support these vulnerable categories, including housing rental subsidies and monthly payments for IDPs.

Special attention is paid to supporting the elderly who have lost their usual social environment. Resilience programs are being implemented to adapt and integrate the elderly, and a social housing system adapted to their needs is being created. There are also about 3 million people with disabilities in the country, for whom the war has become another obstacle due to the loss of jobs and sources of income. In 2024, 88 billion hryvnias were allocated to ensure social protection for citizens who have found themselves in difficult life circumstances.

In addition, the war in Ukraine has significantly affected families with children, in particular large families, which are among the most vulnerable. The government is improving the social protection system to ensure adequate support for families with children, particularly in war conditions.

Since the beginning of the war, the number of war veterans has increased significantly, and material assistance will remain one of the main needs of this category of the population. Rehabilitation of wounded veterans is also an important task. 12 types of social services are available to veterans and their families, including assistance, rehabilitation, pensions, social scholarships, and rehabilitation aids. Last year, the state budget financed social payments and benefits for military personnel and veterans, which is an important part of social security.