We are pleased to present the second issue of the Humanitarian Observatory for Central and Eastern Europe Newsletter. This quarterly publication is part of a broader network coordinated by the Hague Humanitarian Studies Centre at Erasmus University Rotterdam, bringing together academic institutions, humanitarian actors, and civil society from across the region. The Observatory serves as a collaborative space to critically engage with humanitarian governance, refugee response, and crisis management in Central and Eastern Europe.
What’s inside this issue?
This second issue (2/2025) focuses on the shifting humanitarian landscape in Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine amid funding pressures, securitisation trends, and continued displacement.
- Poland: The summer months of 2025 saw intensifying anti-migrant sentiment and further operational decline of humanitarian and social sectors. New restrictive policies at the Polish–Belarusian border have coincided with increasing criminalisation of humanitarian aid. A new report by the Helsinki Foundation of Human Rights in Poland sheds light on emblematic cases, including recent trials of human rights activists. At the same time, Ukrainian refugees remain exceptionally economically active, contributing to an estimated 2.7% of Poland’s GDP in 2024, though uncertainties around welfare entitlements signal potential shifts in support.
- Belarus: Tens of thousands of displaced people from Ukraine remain in Belarus, with limited access to protection. New case studies by Human Constanta expose systemic violations — including family separation, deportations without due process, and the broader erosion of migrant rights. The report highlights how migration control is increasingly used as a tool of political and social pressure.
- Ukraine: As Russian military attacks intensify, humanitarian needs have deepened sharply. Access to front-line communities remains severely constrained, while local organisations — despite limited direct funding — play a critical role in maintaining humanitarian coverage. Findings from a recent study by Open Space Works Ukraine and Ground Truth Solutions underline the importance of localisation of cash assistance, demonstrating how partnerships with local actors improve programme reach, integration with national social protection, and communication with affected populations.
