Team4UA joined the two-day peer-to-peer workshop on civil evacuation, held in Kyiv on July 9 – 10. The event was organized by the Protection Cluster in Ukraine – an UN-led coordination system uniting over 300 international and local organizations – jointly with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and the “Right to Protection” Charitable Foundation.
The event gathered over 60 representatives from humanitarian organizations, volunteer initiatives, and government bodies, with key insights shared by Team4UA’s Executive Director Jean-Christophe Bonis and Program Director Guillaume Banos.
During the panel discussion, experts emphasized that evacuating people from high-risk areas is part of a comprehensive process that does not end with the departure itself.
“Evacuation is quite a complex system. It all starts with informing people about available support and receiving that first call to the hotline. What follows is needs assessment, departure arrangements, complex logistics, first aid, and subsequently – finding housing and settling into a new location. Everything needs to be well-coordinated so people feel safe throughout the process – from that first call to adapting to their new community”
Jean-Christophe Bonis, Director of CF “Team4UA”
Over the two days, participants shared practical field experience and thoroughly examined the legal intricacies of evacuating civilians and children. They also raised key questions regarding cooperation with regional evacuation hubs and readiness for potential large-scale challenges in frontline areas – particularly in Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and the Kherson region.
Special attention was given to supporting the evacuation teams themselves (Duty of Care) – focusing on their physical safety and mental health while operating under shellings.
Commenting on the outcomes of the meeting, Guillaume Banos, Head of Programmes of CF “Team4UA”, highlighted that effective assistance is only possible through continuous cooperation:
“Every day, our partners perform extraordinarily complex and high-risk work evacuating civilians in the hottest spots. That is why, within the TERA Consortium, we provide comprehensive Duty of Care – supporting the safety and mental health of our team, partners, and volunteers. Currently, we collaborate with 5 organizations carrying out evacuations and soon 8 more, including those providing medical accompaniment. Our shared goal is to act in alignment and support one another at all times. Only through equal partnership and experience-sharing can we guarantee that assistance is delivered timely and effectively at every stage of an IDP’s journey”
Guillaume Banos, Head of Programmes of CF “Team4UA”
We extend our gratitude to the Protection Cluster and all partners for creating this vital space for open dialogue and for their daily, dedicated efforts to save lives!
