How to provide shelter, housing, and food for one million displaced persons in just a few days - Part 2

When a war escalates, hundreds of thousands of people can flee within days within the borders of their own country. How do you organize shelter, food, and support on such a scale and at such a pace without the system breaking down?

This training describes how the Ukrainian city of Lviv, near the border with Poland, prepared for and responded to the large-scale influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the escalation of the war on February 24, 2022. It follows the city's approach chronologically: from the preparatory measures in the months leading up to the escalation — coordination meetings, first aid training, evacuation planning, and inventory of available resources — through the establishment of emergency coordination structures and district coordination centers at the outbreak of the war, to the concrete organization of basic necessities, reception centers, and the train station as the main evacuation hub.

You will also learn how Lviv organized long-term support for the displaced, through advisory services, centers for vulnerable groups such as orphans and children without parental care, and municipal support centers.

This case study provides concrete insights into crisis coordination at the urban level and is relevant for anyone involved in disaster response, social services, or municipal policy regarding large-scale displacement.