Providing critical winter support for displaced Ukrainians

Providing critical winter support for Ukrainians displaced by conflict

The escalating violence in eastern Europe has killed more than 5,000 people and forced more than 1.5 million to flee their homes.

For those remaining in the midst of the conflict in the Donbas region, the challenges they face are tremendous. Basic everyday services have been disrupted, access to money is limited, and food and essential items are increasingly rare and expensive. Nearly half of the displaced people are children.

Children who have recently fled their homes are forced to spend days at a time in basements while the bombardment continues overhead. Children trapped in the affected regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are in urgent need of shelter, food and water and medical supplies.

A few hospitals are operating but with severely restricted resources. In communities which have old bomb shelters, displaced families are sheltering in them – sometimes with as many as 20 or 30 people in one room.

The winter is presenting unprecedented challenges for the thousands of internally displaced people, facing temperatures as low as-25 degrees Celsius. With the help of the European Union's department of humanitarian aid (ECHO), Save the Children plans to reach up to 10,000 vulnerable individuals with cash assistance that would allow them to purchase items they need. While the needs are immense, the assistance will be enough to provide warm clothing, a blanket and heater for each person.

"Thanks to this support we can reach out to thousands of displaced and vulnerable Ukrainians who have been forced to leave everything behind," said Sam Crago, Save the Children's Humanitarian Manager in Ukraine. "It is not just aid, but the way we do it, that matters a lot to us, and that's why we want to ensure that people receiving this assistance feel they will be able to meet some of their own most pressing needs with dignity and freedom of choice."

Save the Children has been working in Eastern Europe for over 20 years, and through partners in Ukraine for the last seven years. Last year we moved to a direct emergency response, as a result of this crisis. We now have a team of 30 people, working around the clock to support fleeing families through food, essential items access to safe water and cash payments to help them survive the winter. We are plan to boost our response to ensure children have access to specialist emotional support and education, and to reach those families trapped within the heavily contested areas.

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