€2 Million in European Union funding to improve access to healthcare and rehabilitation for 15,000 vulnerable people in Ukraine

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations is providing €2 million in humanitarian funding for a new project to improve access to healthcare, rehabilitation and protection services for over 15,000 war-affected people in Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Poltava oblasts between May 2026 and April 2027.

Ran by CBM together with its implementing partners Momentum Wheels for Humanity (MWH) and the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD), the project combines CBM’s international expertise in disability inclusive humanitarian assistance with the knowledge, networks and leadership of national actors, strengthening a locally led response tailored to community needs.

Particular attention will be given to people with disabilities, who often face multiple barriers in accessing humanitarian assistance and public services. By promoting disability inclusion across all activities, the Action aims to enable people to live more independently, freely participate in community life, and exercise their rights with dignity and safety.

More specifically, the project will support people in rebuilding their lives and independence by addressing physical, psychological and social challenges resulting from the war. At the same time, it will strengthen local service providers to deliver more accessible and inclusive support for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The action will strengthen local health and rehabilitation services through accessibility improvements, equipment and technical support. Healthcare professionals, rehabilitation specialists and social service providers will receive training to improve the quality and inclusiveness of services. Community-based support will help people access rehabilitation, assistive products, psychosocial support, legal assistance including information on available services, social protection measures and relevant legal rights for people with disabilities.

About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid: The European Union and its Member States are among the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and human-induced crises. Through the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is an international development and humanitarian organisation committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. CBM works with local partners worldwide to promote inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunities in humanitarian and development contexts. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, CBM has been supporting humanitarian action and recovery efforts in partnership with national and local organisations, with a particular focus on disability inclusion, rehabilitation, health and protection. Visit: Ukraine: CBM’s Inclusive Humanitarian Response | startpage

Momentum Wheels for Humanity (MWH) is an international nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to rehabilitation services and assistive products for people with disabilities worldwide. Since 1996, Momentum Wheels for Humanity has worked in more than 70 countries to strengthen health systems, increase access to high-quality assistive technology, and promote greater inclusion. Our work focuses on three core areas: assistive technology supply and provision, rehabilitation systems strengthening, and inclusive disaster response. Momentum Wheels for Humanity has worked in Ukraine for more than 25 years. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Momentum Wheels for Humanity has expanded its efforts to strengthen rehabilitation services, train healthcare professionals, improve access to assistive products, and support Ukraine’s long-term recovery and health system development. Visit: Global Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Access | MWH

National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) is a nationwide union of organizations of persons with disabilities, bringing together national, regional and local organizations, including organizations established and led by persons with disabilities, their legal representatives and parents of children with disabilities. NAPD advocates for and promotes the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The organization works to ensure that persons with disabilities in Ukraine have equal rights, opportunities and full participation in society, and that disability inclusion is reflected in public policy, humanitarian response, recovery, accessibility, rehabilitation, education and employment. Visit: Home - National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine