In The Midst of Crisis in Ukraine, Women and Children Are Left On their Own

Christina, aged 4, and her mother Maria arrived safely in Poland, however like many refugees arriving in new countries, the shock of the journey lingers along with the uncertainty of what’s next.

“What we’re going to do now, I don’t know yet,” Maria says. “The war is everywhere.”

Women and girls are at particular risk in active conflict situations, and during widescale displacement, gender-based violence, exploitation, discrimination, and poor access to vital health services all rise.

CARE Austria is providing emergency aid through its partner organization “People in Need” in Ukraine. The first aid deliveries have already arrived while refugees are also being cared for at the borders to neighboring countries such as Poland, Slovakia, or Romania. Many arrive freezing and hungry. Mothers and children are exhausted.

“Many have to deal with terrible war experiences,” says Andrea Barschdorf-Hager, Executive Director of CARE Austria. “Psychosocial help is very important. People need someone they can talk to. We are in a war situation. We need to make the refugees feel welcome and let them know they have a safe place.”

CARE’s partner organization is also working on the Slovak-Ukrainian border with a team of emergency workers. They have set up heated tents where the exhausted mothers and children can warm up and rest. Upon arrival, they are given tea and a hot meal. There are also sanitation facilities there, such as portable toilets. In addition, trained teams are provided for crisis intervention and psychosocial assistance.

“Most refugees have someone in neighboring countries who will take them in. They are on their way to friends, family or acquaintances,” says Marek Štys, head of humanitarian aid at People in Need. “But that can change abruptly if the conflict escalates further. If a large number of refugees arrive without contacts and seek protection, the whole situation could become very challenging.”