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How the IRC is Helping Ukrainians Survive a Harsh Winter

With no end in sight to the war raging in their country, millions of Ukrainians are facing their toughest winter in recent history. Approximately 5.9 million people in Ukraine have been displaced and are facing freezing winter conditions after being forced to flee their homes. Many are taking shelter in damaged buildings and have limited access to food, electricity, and heat. Since February 2022, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been on the ground working closely with partner organizations to reach people in need. We are scaling up our response as the weather gets colder and are distributing essential winter items, including blankets and heaters.

On December 29, Ukraine was hit by the biggest missile strikes seen in weeks. We are concerned about further damage to civilian infrastructure which could leave thousands of people without sufficient heating and electricity during severe winter conditions.

What are conditions like in Ukraine?

Winter in Ukraine is snowy and cold, with temperatures reaching well below freezing. During the winter months, which run from December to March, the country has an average temperature ranging between 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-4.8 C) and 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 C). In some regions where the IRC works, temperatures regularly drop to -5 degrees Fahrenheit (-21.6 C).

Eastern Ukraine has been shaken by conflict since 2014, and the situation in the country has deteriorated significantly since the full-scale war broke out last February. Attacks have damaged the Ukrainian power grid, making blackouts a common occurrence. In a single day in mid-November, intense fighting left more than 7 million Ukrainians without electricity. In a recent IRC assessment, 25% of respondents said that they did not have access to sufficient heating, and more than 60% reported that their houses need repair. A lack of power, heat, and shelter becomes life-threatening as temperatures plunge well below freezing. Across the country, 17.7 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance.

What will Ukrainians need to survive winter?

More funds and immediate assistance are needed to minimize the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine this winter. Ukrainians need access to suitable shelter, health services and clean water to survive. Millions of Ukrainians have had their homes destroyed by conflict. Now, they’re searching for shelter from violence and the winter elements. Many are staying in buildings that have been damaged by the conflict while whole communities have been left without access to electricity.

“With no power source, and with damage to their shelter, surviving the winter will be incredibly difficult for a large number of people,” says the IRC's Ukraine country director, Marysia Zapasnik. “It could also result in a dramatic increase in the number of people displaced, as they move to other parts of the country in search of warmth.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that conditions in Ukraine will increase rates of frostbite, hypothermia, pneumonia, stroke, and heart attack. Those who do fall ill may be unable to access care; there have been over 700 attacks on health facilities since the war began, with many critical services damaged and destroyed.

How is the IRC helping Ukrainians survive winter?

“Our teams are determined to stay and deliver, amidst blackouts and freezing winter temperatures,” says Michael Despines, IRC’s Ukraine regional director. “To date, thousands of people in Ukraine have received IRC’s emergency kits of basic essential items, including sleeping bags and warm blankets.”

The IRC provides tailored support to meet the needs of Ukrainians for winter, including blankets, sleeping bags, stoves, heaters, and fuel. In areas close to the frontlines, we will continue to provide shelter materials as well as PVC and plywood materials to seal holes in roofs, walls, and windows. In areas where businesses still operate, we are continuing our cash distribution program to help families buy the supplies they need to survive the winter.

“We are in a race against the clock as the temperatures plummet across Ukraine,” says Despines, “People are freezing, and we need to do more.”

Aside from our winter response, the IRC distributes personal hygiene products like toothbrushes and soap, supports health facilities and provides legal consultations to displaced Ukrainians whose homes have been damaged in the war. The IRC and our partner organizations have also set up safe healing and learning spaces for displaced children and are working to ensure children are protected and welcomed in the communities where they have sought safety.

Thank you for your support.

Since the war in Ukraine broke out in February of 2022, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has partnered with local organizations in Poland, Ukraine and Moldova to ensure we reach communities with the services they need the most. One of those partners is Migam, a Polish company that offers 24/7 video interpretation and assistance to refugees who are among the 72 million members of the Deaf community who use sign language. Since opening the program in early March, Migam has provided over 9,100 sign language interpretations, adding up to more than 1,214 hours.

Oleksii Zelinskyi, 33 and Deaf himself, and Roman Zadaniuk, 47, are both interpreters at Migam assisting refugees with everything from day-to-day tasks to complex legal and health care matters. Below, they describe their work and the challenges faced by Deaf people forced to flee Ukraine.

Editor’s note: Roman’s interview was originally conducted in Polish and Oleksii’s in Ukrainian sign language. Both interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

How does the war affect Deaf people in Ukraine?

Oleksii: The war has brought challenges to Deaf people, for instance, we cannot hear the sound of air raid sirens. In February, I heard about a Deaf girl who was asleep and did not hear the sirens. When her mother tried to wake her the girl couldn’t believe what was happening. Ukraine’s Deaf community is at risk of missing life-saving alarms and does not have the same access to some reports or warnings that the hearing community has.

Roman: I have been on a video call with a Deaf friend, out shopping in Ukraine when the alarms began. He couldn’t hear them and I had to tell him to find shelter! There was another instance where a Deaf couple decided to flee the city of Kherson with their two kids. The Ukrainian government had forbidden anyone from leaving the city as Russian forces had surrounded it but the parents missed the information due to their hearing loss. They left under bombing and made it peacefully to Switzerland, thank god.

What challenges do Deaf Ukrainian refugees face when arriving in Poland?

Oleksii: Deaf people have been in a state of shock since the beginning of the war in Ukraine and many have had to flee to new countries where they are put in tough situations. A lot of Deaf Ukrainian refugees struggle to understand new local cultures, laws and how to care for their essential needs after being displaced. The Poles have been very helpful in setting up organizations to help but volunteers have been very busy.

Roman: When Deaf refugees are crossing the border, there are a lot of difficulties communicating with volunteers or officials. Now, many Deaf Ukrainian refugees have gained a little stability in Poland but still need help with daily tasks. For example, they may need assistance with enrolling children in schools and other day-to-day tasks such as attending health care appointments or communicating at banks. Deaf refugees have to cope with double stress; the stress of fleeing war and the stress that they will not understand or be understood.

The IRC and Migam

The IRC’s partnership with Migam has allowed the organization to expand its services and hire new interpreters to assist Deaf Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter in Poland.

Thank you for supporting the IRC, which allows us to forge partnerships like these and expand our services to communities in need.