The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund supports Ukrainian front line aid organizations
Ukraine | 2023 | CBPF
Ukraine. Throughout 2023, the war continued to wreak havoc in Ukraine. Civilians, including children, were killed and injured. Livelihoods were disrupted, while prolonged (and repeated) displacement continued to drive a massive humanitarian and protection crisis.
The situation cannot improve for people unless the war stops.
Near the front lines, entire communities are being pummeled daily, leaving millions dependent on humanitarian assistance. As 2024 begins, nearly 15 million people need humanitarian assistance.
Some of them are on the move, while others choose to – or must – stay put. The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund helps fund the Ukrainian organizations that do vital work to help people in need.
Travel kits for people fleeing the war
In June 2023, the Nova Kakhova Dam was destroyed, putting thousands of civilians in danger. Many people had to flee their homes.
Ukrainian organization People in Need was on the front lines, providing drinking water and other assistance. As thousands of traumatized people fled to the nearby city of Lviv, People in Need also met them with psychologists and volunteers.
Funding from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund allowed volunteers to provide each evacuee with a travel kit including food and hygiene supplies to help them on their journey.
Repairing people’s homes so that they can return
Nina Zahrebelna is the mayor of Virnopillia village, which is back under Ukrainian control. “Before the war, we had a population of 640 people, and today, 137 have returned,” she explains.
As in many villages, homes and public buildings have been damaged or destroyed – as well as heating, communication, and transport infrastructure.
With winter approaching, the people in Mayor Zahrebelna’s village and others in the area needed help quickly. With UHF funding, People in Need and their partner ‘Peaceful Sky’ renovated homes in Virnopillia and other nearby villages.
“Our priority has always been pensioners, people with disabilities, and single mothers,” says Olena Kolomiyets, who managed the construction project.
Reaching vulnerable kids – and their teachers – with quality education and mental health support
Children and their parents continue to face challenges in accessing education. Many students are behind because they missed schooling due to war and displacement: they also face mental health difficulties because of the war.
With UHF funding, the “100% Life” and “Ukrainian Smile” organizations recently launched a program to offer kids in rural communities digital learning opportunities . The project also aims to offer early mental health screening and referrals for support.
“Education and health go hand in hand,” explains Dmytro Sherembey, Head of NGO 100% Life, which focuses on the public health component. “No child in the world should have to go through what Ukrainian children are going through. This project is at the intersection of education and health: we are investing to support our children today and tomorrow.”
The project will support mobile classrooms with technical equipment and Ukrainian-language content, as well as building teachers’ skills in responding to mental health crises and developing best practices for referral.
Original story: adapted from original articles by People in Need (two stories) and 100Life
More information about the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund