World Refugee Day 2025: Cash Assistance Proves a Lifeline for Ukrainian and Syrian Refugees, Transforming Lives beyond Survival

19 June 2025 

• 3 out of 4 refugee families reported that cash assistance improved their children’s well-being by meeting essential needs such as nutrition, health care, and education.
• 100% of refugee families experienced improved economic stability through cash assistance, with the number of women generating income doubling after receiving support.
• Over half of households (54%) said cash assistance enhanced their relationships within their communities.
• Nearly all refugees (94%) noted improvements in their mental health and overall well-being after receiving cash assistance

A new report from World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe, entitled “Supporting Lives in Transition: The Role of Cash and Voucher Assistance in Refugee Well-being and Community Resilience,” (LINK to be added later) highlights the transformative impact of cash and voucher assistance on refugee communities across Romania, Georgia, Jordan, and Lebanon.

“We have seen time and time again through our cash and voucher assistance programmes that when refugees have access to flexible and dignified support, they make choices that build stronger futures for themselves and their children,” said Eleanor Monbiot, Regional Leader at World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe. “Cash assistance isn’t just about survival – it’s about enabling stability, resilience, and hope.”

Drawing on the voices of refugee participants, this report shows that cash assistance not only addresses immediate needs during emergencies, but also contributes to long-term resilience, improved mental health, and stronger community connections. By comparing the experiences of Ukrainian and Syrian refugees, the report underscores the critical role of cash assistance as a lifeline across both displacement contexts, highlighting its continued impact on improving refugees’ quality of life in areas such as child well-being, economic stability, and psychosocial health.

“I had my own home-based business – a beauty salon – but there was a shortage of raw materials. I had to borrow money from a friend to cover part of the cost for these materials. However, when I started working with the [World Vision] programme and received the cash and voucher assistance, I was able to repay the debt and purchase the remaining raw materials [to continue my business]." – Layla*, 36-year-old Syrian refugee mother and cash-for-work participant, Azraq Camp, Jordan

As conflicts, crises and waves of displacements continue to affect the Middle East and Eastern Europe region, despite their proven benefits, World Vision warns that cash and voucher assistance programmes are increasingly at risk due to global funding cuts. These reductions threaten the well-being of millions of displaced families – particularly women and children – who risk falling back into cycles of poverty and vulnerability. World Vision calls on donor agencies and governments to prioritise long-term, flexible, and reliable funding for cash and voucher assistance programmes, which remain essential to the survival and recovery of refugee communities.

Notes to editor: 

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

*Name has been changed to protect project participant’s privacy.

Contact: 

For more information, please contact: Evita Jourdi, Regional Advocacy, Policy and External Engagement Senior Advisor, WV MEER: Evita_jourdi@wvi.org

For more information, please visit https://www.wvi.org/middle-east-and-eastern-europe or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter @WVMEERO