Ben Stiller in Ukraine wanted to see the scale of the destruction and talk to people – UNHCR

This was reported by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ukrinform informs.

"These personal stories will allow Mr. Stiller to draw attention to the growing need for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, both the urgent and medium- and long-term needs of displaced persons and communities, and relevant UNHCR programs, especially in the areas of protection, housing and assistance (cash and in-kind)," the report states.

During the visit, Stiller reportedly met with residents of Makariv, whose homes were destroyed, and visited the local community center in Irpin, which UNHCR helped rebuild in 2014 to meet IDPs from Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The actor also talked to several people who were forced to leave their homes for the second time when Irpin began firing on Russian invaders.

Earlier, during a visit to Poland this week, Stiller met with Ukrainian refugees. Among them was a woman who left Kharkiv with three children two months ago. The family wants to return to Ukraine, but the area where they lived was destroyed by the shelling.

Ben Stiller became a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2018 and has been one of the most influential voices on refugee and internal displacement since.

It was reported that Hollywood actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Ben Stiller arrived in Ukraine on June 19. He visited Lviv, as well as the liberated settlements of Kyiv region.

He also met with President of Ukraine VolodymyrZelensky and Foreign Minister DmytroKuleba.

UNHCR has been working in Ukraine since 1994. After February 24, 2022, the organization significantly expanded its humanitarian programs to support government efforts to respond to the urgent humanitarian and long-term problems and needs of affected populations and communities in recovery. In particular, UNHCR helps to repair damaged homes, provides legal advice to missing persons, psychosocial support for rehabilitation after trauma, and financial and in-kind assistance to people to cover their basic needs such as housing, hygiene and food.

Photo: UNHCR / Andrew McConnell