Connecting refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine

‘It’s a huge support’: Connectivity to ease the daily lives of displaced Ukrainians

There are nearly 5.1 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine. Women and children, who make up the majority of people fleeing the crisis, are forced to move from their homes in search of safety and better living conditions. Many of the people displaced find shelter in collective centers across the country, in a new place away from their homes, their workplace, their school.

This is what Kate, a displaced person in one of the centers TSF works with, went through with her two children – they left a month before their town was occupied. The Internet is "one of the main needs" for her and her family, to work remotely and for her children to study online.

TSF provides free Wi-fi connection in several collective centers for IDPs across Ukraine, including one in Vinnytsia, where Kate and her family are. In the various centers in Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Lviv and Brody, connectivity has helped more than 2,500 people since July 2023.

According to our survey, the four most important uses of the Internet for people using the service are consulting the news, seeking general information on their situation, contacting their family and carrying out administrative procedures. While the situation persists, the people living in the centers also have to manage their daily lives, especially when it comes to their children's schooling. 

“Now that IDPs have settled and are living in one place for several months, having access to the internet is crucial.”  a center manager told us.

In Ukraine, two out of five children were unable to return to full-time school in September (Save The Children), underlining the importance of access to online learning for children far from home. For many IDPs, being on the move means having to use 4G to access the Internet, which can be a significant expense in a family’s budget. The free Wi-fi access provided by TSF in collective centers helps avoid this. 

“We can spend less money on 4G subscriptions and it’s a huge support for all children in the center to let them study, which was difficult for them before we had free Wi-Fi.” a center resident shared with us.

This connectivity enables thousands of people to stay connected to their loved ones, access information, stay in school, or even work to keep their family afloat. 

Ukraine: the project now covers 7 collective centres

Many Ukrainian families were forced to flee their home and found shelter in collective centers in other regions. These families need a reliable internet connectivity to continue their life, be it for remote working or attendin remote course that are organised for students. Our local team has extended the project to 7 shelters where internet connectivity or coverage was not available in the regions of Vinnytsia, Dnipro and Lviv. Since the beginning of the year, more than 2300 people have used the connection in these shelters, mainly to contact family and friends, stay informed on the political situation they’re in, following administrative procedures. For children, it’s also a way to stay in school, and for adults, it can be a way to work remotely and, by doing so, stay afloat financially.

“We have a lot of children here who need the Internet. They study both online and offline, and that's why we really need this Internet.” Tetyiana, a Ukrainian IDP in Vinnytsya.

Providing essential information to refugees in Poland

On arrival in Poland, Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war – mostly women with their children – are tired, worried… They have to complete the required administrative procedures while taking care of their children or elderly relatives. In order to understand the different possibilities and to make informed choices or receive assistance, they need clear and reliable information.

In cooperation with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), TSF disseminates essential information at various refugee reception sites in Poland. The information displayed is collected from verified sources and covers various topics relevant to refugees, including mental health advice, information on international protection, legal advice, support provided by institutions, among others.

“Even if the refugees don’t need the information right now, they still need it, probably to share with someone, a family member or community members, so it’s really useful to have a lot of information available so they can select.” Lilia, UNHCR agent in Rzeszòw, Poland

Links:

• Read testimonies of people connected by TSF