The Estonian Refugee Council is launching operations in Syria to support those affected by nearly 14 years of civil war and to contribute to the country’s reconstruction. The Syrian humanitarian crisis remains one of the largest in the world, with 16.7 million people—approximately three-quarters of the population—in need of various forms of humanitarian aid. The Estonian Refugee Council will assist both internally displaced people and those returning home after prolonged periods as refugees.

From October 2024 to January 2025, the Estonian Refugee Council provided guidance to kindergarten specialists in Ida-Viru County and Tallinn to support the creation of more inclusive learning and developmental environments. As part of the programme, experienced kindergarten educators offered advice on supporting children with a mother tongue other than Estonian in Estonian-speaking groups. The initiative was funded by the British Council in Estonia.

The Estonian Refugee Council launched today a fundraising campaign 'Three Years Too Many,' which will run throughout February and March to raise donations for providing essential aid to vulnerable people in frontline areas.

In 2024, the Estonian Refugee Council operated in Ukraine, Estonia, Armenia, Georgia, Jordan, and Lebanon, providing immediate assistance in emergencies and supporting more than 69,000 crisis-affected people in rebuilding their lives.

In Estonia, we have relaunched the "Boost" entrepreneurship programme, which helps participants develop or restart their existing businesses. Registration is open on the Estonian Refugee Council platform.In Ukraine we have provided cash-based assistance to nearly 296,000 people. In Ukraine, we continue to distribute winter support to cover heating costs for 5000 households during the upcoming winter season. Assistance will be provided in cash, or alternatively, firewood or coal will be delivered directly to those in need.We are launching four community councils in Armenia to enable people with refugee backgrounds to express their concerns, advocate for solutions to their problems, and participate in decision-making processes that affect them.We will also continue working with community councils in Georgia to amplify the voices of refugees and internally displaced persons there.

Oksana, along with her husband and daughter, left her hometown of Kharkiv due to the war in March 2022. This is how the family ended up in Cherkasy. Before the full-scale invasion, Oksana sold kimchi – a popular Korean snack – through an online store on Instagram. At one time, her daughter became interested in K-pop culture, and Oksana not only supported this hobby, but also began to study the Korean language and culture, including cuisine.

Valerii and his wife live in the village in Donetsk region. Their children are already grown up and live separately. Valerii is a pensioner now but before he worked for 40 years at a local mine. Shortly before the start of the full-scale invasion, the family moved into a new house, which they built for a long time themselves.

ERC team visited families in the town of Smila in Cherkasy region who received assistance from the Estonian Refugee Council in Ukraine through the Emergency livelihoods programme.