Krieg in der Ukraine: Nothilfe vor Ort
HEKS
War in Ukraine

HEKS/EPER supports people in need

Emergency aid in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine is having a devastating impact on daily life and on civil infrastructure in that country. Countless people are having to be evacuated from areas close to the front line, and the need for humanitarian aid is accordingly substantial. There is a HEKS/EPER has a team operating in Ukraine and working to provide internally displaced people with protection, shelter and essential supplies and, as far as possible, to alleviate the plight of those in embattled parts of the south, east and west of the country. HEKS/EPER focuses its assistance on the elderly, people with impairments, the internally displaced, single women, and other people at risk.

Humanitarian aid in southern and eastern Ukraine 

Challenging task of distributing aid supplies

Intensive bombing and fighting in the east and south of Ukraine are making the provision of humanitarian aid supplies a complex and highly challenging task. The situation is being further compounded by repeated rocket attacks on energy, water and gas infrastructure. Despite this, HEKS/EPER is continuing operations in areas around the cities of Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson and Odessa. Items being distributed include relief supplies, winter kits, WASH toiletries, special hygiene packages for women and – where possible – aid-in-cash. 

HEKS/EPER is assessing the damage to water supply and sanitation facilities in the Donetsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions with a view to repairing critical infrastructure. When winter temperatures fall below freezing, HEKS/EPER distributes stoves, solid fuels and sleeping bags so that the most vulnerable groups are assured of a minimum of warmth. Emergency kits for house repairs are also being distributed in southern and eastern Ukraine, and minor-to-moderate repairs are being made to badly damaged houses.  

Winterization programs in Eastern and Southern Ukraine

Winters in Ukraine can be extremely harsh, often with temperatures well below zero—sometimes as low as minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. The ongoing conflict results in frequent attacks by drones, rockets, and artillery, causing extensive damage to critical infrastructure. As a result, communities near the frontlines may be left without electricity, heating, or even water for months at a time. Despite these dire conditions, many residents have chosen to remain in their homes.

HEKS/EPER Ukraine teams are working to support these communities in eastern and southern Ukraine. In partnership with USAID (BHA), Norwegian Church Aid, and other organizations, our staff are providing essential aid, including sleeping bags, solid fuel briquettes, and other critical supplies, to vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach areas.

Aid for displaced persons returning to their homes

The UNHCR estimates that as of end-April 2024, there were 3.5 million internally displaced people in Ukraine. Most notably in the areas where HEKS/EPER is operating, there is a strong desire to return home, despite the risks, frequently owing to financial difficulties. People then often live in the cellars of their destroyed buildings and depend on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs. Thanks to its long-standing experience in crisis regions, HEKS/EPER has developed the requisite capability to adapt its projects in a flexible and context-based manner, and to respond rapidly to the various needs of these people by supplying toiletries, winter gear, shelter or aid-in-cash. 

A challenging working environment

Despite all the efforts, humanitarian aid is in short supply in Ukraine, and civilians are often unable to access information about what aid is available. Many people also fear being targeted at distribution points. Daily aerial attacks are delaying aid distribution, and the situation in mined areas is even more challenging.  In addition, logistical obstacles and damaged infrastructure are complicating the task of preparing and delivering vital humanitarian aid.

Aid for internally displaced persons and host communities in western Ukraine

Despite the desire to return to their places of origin, many internally displaced people, especially those from conflict regions, decide to stay in western Ukraine, either because returning would be dangerous, because their homes have been destroyed, or because they come from regions that are occupied by Russia. In western Ukraine, HEKS/EPER works with local NGOs and the Reformed Church of Transcarpathia. In Chernivtsi and Transcarpathia, HEKS/EPER is assisting both internally displaced persons and host communities. As part of a survivor and community-led response, HEKS/EPER is supporting a wide range of local initiatives that are developed and led by people in the community. These may take the form of meal services for internally displaced persons and senior citizens whose relatives have left the country, social activities for children and their parents, or activities to secure livelihoods and prepare for economic integration. Internally displaced people as well as residents of these regions are thus able to respond to the immediate needs of their communities. 
 

Last Update: December 2024

 

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Andràs D. Hajdu

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