Victims or resistors? Lessons from the Ukraine response on how narratives impact humanitarian action

The idea that people impacted by crises are in some way vulnerable and therefore deserving of help is the foundation of most public fundraising, programming and advocacy messaging created by the humanitarian sector. But what role do narratives play in shaping who is seen as deserving of support?
A new research report by HPG finds that in the case of Ukraine, narratives have painted an unhelpful binary, presenting Ukrainians either as vulnerable victims or resilient resistors of Russian aggression. While both narratives have in different ways fuelled generous aid and refugee responses, the reality is not so black and white.
HPG’s research highlights the practical implications of these clashing narratives. While narratives that focus only on Ukrainians’ vulnerability are disempowering and do not reflect reality, those that concentrate solely on resilience have overshadowed vulnerabilities, especially those that are less visible. Less obvious vulnerabilities include the degrading resilience of local aid responders in Ukraine, who face a heavy psychological cost as the war grows protracted.
In host countries, stereotypes of vulnerability fed into the image - across publics and governments alike - of Ukrainians as an ‘ideal refugee’ deserving of a generous welcome, often in explicit contrast to other groups. Ukraine is one example where local actors can play an important role in helping international humanitarian organisations tell stories in a way that better conveys the complex realities of affected communities.
Join us to hear more about how this has impacted the Ukraine humanitarian response, and how we can learn from this example to build future humanitarian narratives that reflect a more nuanced understanding of vulnerability.