The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees urged people Monday not to forget about the millions of Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s invasion, which is nearing its second anniversary in February.

With the war having to share the international spotlight with the instability in the Middle East, Filippo Grandi told Axios, "I don't think we are yet at that stage of forgetfulness, but we are certainly at the stage where it is not a headline, and the sense of urgency that was there, which included humanitarian action, unfortunately, is not there."

On Monday, the United Nations said it is seeking $4.2 billion to support war-affected communities in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees and their host communities throughout the year. It said in a news release that 14.6 million people in Ukraine — about 40% of the population — need humanitarian assistance, and about 6.3 million have fled the country since the war began and remain refugees, mostly across Europe.

Grandi told Axios that until last year, the U.N. was "trying to say Ukraine should not take all the space." But as the war continues and other conflicts emerge, "now, we have to say the opposite."

The recent wave of Russian attacks has put a spotlight on the devastating civilian cost of the war, and the U.N. said humanitarian aid will be crucial during the winter months, which can be harsh in Ukraine.

"Hundreds of thousands of children live in communities on the front lines of the war, terrified, traumatized and deprived of their basic needs,” said Martin Griffiths, chief of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in the news release. “That fact alone should compel us to do everything we can to bring more humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

"Homes, schools, and hospitals are repeatedly hit, as are water, gas, and power systems. The very fabric of society is under attack with devastating consequences. Our response plan, implemented with national NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and volunteers, includes the full range of assistance."

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