Ukraine, October 30, 2024 –With the third winter approaching since the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, millions continue to suffer from the impacts of increasing attacks on both civilians and critical infrastructure. These attacks continue to severely damage homes, leaving many without access to essential services, including water and electricity.
According to OCHA’s Winter Response Plan[1] for 2024-2025, humanitarian partners will need USD$492.1 million to provide 1.8 million people across Ukraine with assistance to get through a cold and harsh winter. However, the overall needs are significantly greater, and the freezing temperatures, which typically last from October to March, will only intensify the humanitarian crisis. Women, children, and other vulnerable groups face increased risks to their health and from violence in the harsh conditions, since they are not always able to repair broken windows or roofs, insulate houses or even unload solid fuel on their own.
“When I came home and saw the broken windows and damaged roof, I was scared and didn’t know how my children and I would get through this winter. But fortunately, we received such timely help from CARE ,” said Olha from Sloviansk.
“Our town is surrounded by rivers and lakes, which creates additional humidity during the cold season. We used to collect firewood in the forest, but now all the neighborhoods are still heavily mined, and it is very risky, so the solid fuel we received as aid has become a lifesaver for us,” says Andriy, a resident of Martove village in Kharkiv region.
CARE calls for an increase in support for the 2024-2025 winter response in Ukraine.
“Over two million Ukrainian homes across the country have been damaged by the war. Nearly 4 million internally displaced people and about 90,000 people currently in temporary accommodations are in critical need of assistance to prepare for winter. And these numbers continue to rise as strikes and shelling persist. CARE’s experience from last winter, working with local partner organizations showed that we can deliver high-quality, rapid assistance even in frontline regions such as Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson. But we need funding to ensure that no one in need is left to face these challenges alone,” said Franziska Jörns, CARE Ukraine Deputy Country Director.
Last winter, CARE’s programs reached 20,000 people in Ukraine. With support of local partners “Avalyst”, “Stabilization support services” Right to protection, 3,000 homes were provided with minor repairs, including roof repairs and window replacements. Another 3,000 people received solid fuel to heat their homes, and 1,500 people received warm clothing, thermal underwear, and other essentials. CARE also supported the repair of 495 collective centres and shelters and provided 10,000 generators to supply power to various community centres and resilience hubs.
“Repairing damaged homes in time is not only about protecting people from the cold and giving them hope. It is also about taking care of their psychological and physical condition. After shelling, people often board up windows with plywood and live in the dark for years. In this regard, many people have a very big problem – deterioration of eyesight. Replacing windows is perhaps the biggest thing they need. That is why it is also becoming a priority for us,” said Anna Borysova, Humanitarian Response Director of the Stabilization Support Services Charitable Foundation.
Each new attack in Ukraine increases the number of people affected, however the humanitarian response remains underfunded. CARE urges the international community, donors and all those who can help, to support efforts in preparing for winter. Every contribution will help save lives and ensure dignified living conditions for those most in need.
For media inquiries, contact Halyna Bilak, Communication coordinator at CARE Ukraine, Bilak@care.de.
[1] Ukraine Winter Response Plan
https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/ukraine/ukraine-winter-response-plan-october-2024-march-2025-issued-july-2024