Winter aid brings warmth to war-affected people

As spring brings warm temperatures to Ukraine, Olha, a mother of three, reflects on the past winter with gratitude for the support received. 

Last year, the family was forced to flee their hometown in eastern Ukraine due to intense hostilities that devastated residential areas and caused civilian casualties. Fortunately, Olha found a new home and refuge in Kozylivka Village, Chernihiv Region, in the north of the country, through an online advertisement of a family willing to donate their homes to displaced people. 

But recalling the state of their new home, Olha describes it as dismal: "The building had been uninhabited for some time and was in poor condition. Cracks appeared in the old wooden window frames, letting the wind and rain inside. I worried that we wouldn't be able to keep the house warm during the cold." 

However, their situation improved when they received assistance through OCHA's implementing partner agency ZOA, funded by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, as part of a winter response project. 

"The aid workers installed new windows and provided us with firewood," Olha says with a smile. "So, we could enjoy the comfort and safety of our new home this winter." 

The onset of Ukraine’s winter conditions – which usually start around October and last until late March – added another layer of vulnerability in a country where nearly 14.6 million people need aid, according to the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024. 

“Freezing winter months are already extremely challenging for people to survive, let alone when their homes and critical civilian infrastructure constantly come under fire,” explains Sarah Hilding der Weduwen, Head of OCHA Ukraine. 

More than 110 aid organizations developed a joint Winter Response Plan to alleviate people’s hardships, ensuring they were not left to endure the harsh winter alone. Six months since the plan’s inception, it has aided more than 2 million Ukrainians, one of whom is Olha. 

The regions nearest to the front line received the most assistance, as they are bearing the brunt of relentless hostilities, widespread destruction, job losses and restricted access to essential services. This aid was particularly directed towards regions accommodating the largest number of displaced people, notably the Dnipro, Donetsk and Kharkiv Regions. 

More than 900,000 people received cash and in-kind support, including fuel; more than 400,000 people received winter supplies, such as blankets and sleeping bags; and some 300,000 people received winter clothes. Over 400,000 people benefited from humanitarians’ support for district heating systems, and around 60,000 people received feed or livestock to ensure food security. Sites hosting people fleeing violence were supported with insulation and other refurbishments. 

The Winter Response Plan complements the Government’s efforts, and requests for assistance are already pouring in for the coming winter. 

Ms. Hilding der Weduwen added: “Attacks on energy infrastructure weakened the already plummeted energy system of Ukraine, which may lead to dire consequences for people when temperatures drop below -20°C next year. To help Ukrainians survive the next harsh winter, we must act now.”