By Isabella Schwarzenberger | Philanthropy Manager
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:
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:
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.
By Isabella Schwarzenberger | Philanthropy Manager
By Isabella Schwarzenberger | Philanthropy Manager
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
