Protecting the elderly in eastern Ukraine

Ukraine | 2021 | CBPF

Ukraine. Tetiana*, 75 years old, lives in Blahodatne village, Donetska oblast, just 15 kilometres away from the “contact line” as it stood in 2021. The hostilities have been a daily reality in the settlement where she lives since the conflict began in 2014.

Shelling often disrupts the water supply, leaving Tetiana without clean water and sanitation. It makes it difficult to maintain the proper level of hygiene, which is particularly important amid the raging pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated the already difficult situation. The closest medical facility is 30 kilometres away and hardly accessible for older people. ”I am afraid of COVID-19. As an elderly person, I am particularly vulnerable,” shares Tetiana. Her family suffered a huge loss last year – her daughter died from COVID-19.

“To protect from COVID-19, I had to spend a big portion of my pension on hygiene products. It is now a matter of life or death. That’s why sometimes I do not eat enough food or buy all medications I need. I simply cannot cover all of my needs.”

With UHF funding, INGO ACTED provided 1,600 vulnerable people living near the “contact line,” including, Tetiana with hygiene kits to help them mitigate the risks of COVID-19.

“Thanks to this support, I can protect myself from COVID-19, which helps with my anxiety. It is not just a matter of me saving some money to afford other necessities. I feel supported, taken care of and not forgotten,” Tetiana adds.

*the name of the person who appears in the story has been changed for privacy reasons

July 2021

 More information on the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund:

OCHA -POOLED FUNDS DATA HUB – By Country (unocha.org)

https://www.unocha.org/Ukraine/about-uhf

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