Emergency aid for people in Ukraine

Humanitarian Support in the Harshest Winter Since the War Began

Currecnt Situation

After nearly four years of the full-scale invasion by Russia, Ukraine is facing the harshest winter since the beginning of the war. Following renewed Russian airstrikes on critical infrastructure, electricity, heating, and water supply systems have collapsed in many parts of the country. Major cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv are becoming barely habitable, and more and more people are being forced to leave urban areas. In Kyiv alone, thousands of residential buildings are without heating. Power outages lasting several hours shape daily life. Cooking, washing, and maintaining a normal routine are hardly possible. Severe attacks at the beginning of the year and persistent frost down to minus 20 degrees Celsius are further worsening the situation and putting many people’s lives at risk. In Kyiv, there are often only around three hours of electricity per day, followed by power cuts of up to ten hours.

Children and older people in particular suffer from cold, darkness, and insecurity. Overall, 10.8 million people in Ukraine – every third person – depend on humanitarian support.

Children are especially affected in this humanitarian crisis. Nearly 3,800 educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed. More than 5 million children face restricted access to education; only around 30 percent regularly attend in-person classes. Millions of children live under constant stress due to air raid alarms, displacement, and the lack of safe spaces.

HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

Four years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, humanitarian needs remain immense:

• 10.8 million people require humanitarian assistance (every third person in Ukraine)
• 3.7 million internally displaced persons
• 6.9 million refugees abroad
• Nearly 50,000 evacuations from frontline areas in 2025
• Over 3,000 registered child casualties (as of September 2025)

HOW CARITAS IS HELPING

Caritas has been active in Ukraine for more than 30 years and continues its work even under the most challenging conditions. Together with local partner organizations, the Caritas network has supported more than 5 million people since 2022. Caritas provides drinking water, food, and medicines; organizes shelters; and delivers winter assistance, elderly care, and support for children and young people. From Austria alone, more than 500 tons of relief supplies and over 100 emergency generators have been delivered to Ukraine by Caritas since 2022.

In addition, Caritas offers psychosocial support, educational measures, housing rehabilitation, and assistance in restoring livelihoods. On the ground, it distributes firewood, provides warm meals and protection from the cold in Caritas centers and warming stations, carries out minor repairs, and distributes blankets, sleeping bags, lamps, and thermos flasks.

Focus areas of Caritas support:

• Winter and emergency support (heating materials, blankets, sleeping bags, repairs, warming tents)
• Support for internally displaced persons (shelter, food, hygiene items, cash assistance)
• Child and youth protection (Child Friendly Spaces, learning spaces, psychosocial support)
• Health and care services (mobile home nursing care, hospice and palliative care)
• Psychosocial support for adults, children, and veterans
• Income-generating activities and vocational reintegration

SEEING THE NEED – AND TAKING ACTION

Every third person in Ukraine depends on humanitarian assistance – let us not forget them. After four years of full-scale war, the level of need is greater than ever, and winter continues to aggravate the situation across the country. As Caritas, we remain on the ground and provide assistance and support – even in areas others can no longer reach. Please support our intensive emergency response efforts. Every donation provides warmth, protection, and electricity and is a sign of solidarity and hope for the people of Ukraine.

Project Update

As the war in Ukraine continues into its fourth year, humanitarian needs remain severe, while exhaustion and uncertainty increasingly affect families and communities. During this reporting period, Caritas Austria maintained its emergency response while further adapting programs to support longer-term stability, particularly for children, elderly people, and families living close to the frontlines or in prolonged displacement.

Through established local partnerships and Caritas networks, assistance was delivered in a way that remains flexible, needs-based, and closely coordinated with community actors on the ground.

What We Achieved

Sustaining Life-Saving Assistance

Emergency support continued for people facing the most acute hardship.

• More than 11,500 individuals received humanitarian assistance, including cash support, essential household items, and winter-related aid.
• Heating and winterization support helped over 3,800 households cope with cold temperatures and energy shortages.
• Access to safe water and hygiene was improved for approximately 2,900 households through WASH upgrades and hygiene distributions.

Cash-based assistance remained a key tool, allowing families to respond flexibly to rising costs and urgent needs.

Protecting Children and Supporting Families

Children continue to bear a heavy psychological and social burden of the war. Caritas Austria therefore prioritized child-centred services and family support.

• Around 3,400 children and adolescents participated in education support, psychosocial activities, and life-skills programs.
• Family counselling, legal assistance, and parenting support reached over 2,400 families, strengthening coping mechanisms and protective environments for children.
• Teachers and social workers were supported through trainings on child safeguarding and inclusive education, reinforcing safety and trust in community learning spaces.

Expanding Community-Based Care

Homecare and palliative services remain vital for elderly and chronically ill people, many of whom are isolated or displaced.

• 1,450 individuals received regular homecare or palliative support across 12 regions.
• The School of Volunteers trained an additional 230 volunteers, expanding community capacity for non-medical care and companionship.
• Improved digital case management tools enhanced coordination between professional staff and volunteers, ensuring continuity of care even under difficult conditions.

Strengthening Local Resilience

Alongside direct assistance, Caritas Austria invested in strengthening local systems and preparedness.

• Community dialogues and advocacy exchanges with local NGOs and authorities supported more coordinated responses for vulnerable groups.
• Disaster risk reduction and preparedness trainings increased community resilience in areas exposed to ongoing conflict and infrastructure damage.

Impact

The project continues to provide a vital safety net for people affected by war, while gradually supporting a shift from emergency survival to stability and dignity. Families reported greater ability to meet basic needs, children accessed safer spaces and consistent support, and vulnerable individuals received care that would otherwise be unavailable.

Looking Forward

In 2026, Caritas Austria will continue balancing emergency assistance with resilience-building measures. Priorities include expanding psychosocial support for children, strengthening community-based care services, and deepening cooperation with local partners to ensure sustainable impact in an increasingly protracted crisis.

With the continued support of GlobalGiving donors, Caritas Austria remains committed to standing with people in Ukraine for as long as the need persists.