1,000 days of full-scale war in Ukraine: A call for sustained humanitarian aid amid escalating attacks

At the site of the recent attack in Dnipro City, in the east of Ukraine, Anastasiia, a mother of two, stands beside the ruins of a residential building, a haunting reminder of her loss.. Three of her neighbours lost their lives that day. The explosion’s blast damaged multiple homes, including her apartment. Anastasiia expresses her deep concern for her children’s safety. With winter rapidly approaching, she worries about keeping her family warm amidst relentless hostilities that disrupt basic services and affect daily lives.

“Every day of the past 1,000 days has been a struggle to protect my children,” Anastasiia says. “I simply want them to feel safe and warm and have a place to call home.”

As the full-scale war marks 1,000 days, hostilities across Ukraine continue to escalate, exacerbating humanitarian needs. Civilian infrastructure has been severely impacted, with those living in damaged or destroyed homes facing growing risks as temperatures plummet.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, who arrived in Ukraine 100 days ago, regularly visits front-line regions and communities. Most recently, in Dnipro, Nikopol, and Zaporizhzhia, he once again witnessed firsthand the stark realities faced by people affected by the war. Amidst the rubble of residential buildings and the despair of those who have lost their homes, Schmale called for continued support of the people of Ukraine: 

“We must not normalize the war in Ukraine. We must continue to support this country to the best of our abilities.

Unrelenting strain on lives and civilian infrastructure 

Since the escalation of hostilities on 24 February 2022, the people of Ukraine have endured immense hardships. Between February 2022 and  September 2024, at least 12,000 civilians have lost their lives, and nearly 26,000 have been injured, including many children, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).

Relentless attacks have caused extensive damage to homes, hospitals, schools, and critical civilian infrastructure, including energy and water systems, hampering essential services across the country.

In early November, a geriatric nursing home in Sumy city in the north of Ukraine was damaged by an attack on the city. Andrii Lohvyn, the Head of the Sumy branch of the Proliska Humanitarian Mission and his team immediately arrived at the site of the attack, carefully following safety protocols to mitigate the risk of a double-tap strike threatening local residents, rescue workers, and aid teams providing assistance to those affected.

"There were 221 older people in the centre, most of them with limited mobility. The local authorities needed to evacuate them, so we, together with state services and other organizations, organized the transportation," says Andrii. "Hospitals, schools, apartment buildings, and private homes here are frequently targeted, which has a devastating impact on those who need protection the most. This is unacceptable."

Over 3,400 schools and hospitals, and 2 million homes in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. As winter approaches, with temperatures expected to drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius, many residents remain in homes with leaking roofs, broken windows, and damaged walls, struggling to stay warm and safe. This situation is particularly dire for front-line communities, where conditions are far from suitable for living due to hostilities, with winter bringing a new layer of hardship. 

Large-scale systematic strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have significantly reduced electricity capacity, leaving millions of people nationwide facing frequent power outages.

Meeting urgent needs: A humanitarian perspective

Humanitarian organizations have intensified their efforts to address the urgent needs of people affected by the war, assisting 7.2 million people this year, including 1.7 million of those who had to flee their homes and over 850,000 people with disabilities. Their support includes providing food, clean water, shelter repair materials, as well as psychological and medical care, all aimed at alleviating the suffering caused by ongoing attacks.

Amidst continuous disruption of essential services, humanitarian actors are working with local authorities to support hospitals, schools, and collective sites for displaced people. 

Aid workers are making concerted efforts to protect vulnerable groups, including women, children, and older people. They provide psychosocial support and legal assistance to help affected people navigate the war’s devastating impacts.

A Call for Continued Solidarity and Support

The Humanitarian Coordinator urged the international community to maintain its support for Ukraine. “As long as the war continues, humanitarian needs will persist. Winter brings new challenges, and it is critical that we work closely with the government to support affected communities,” Schmale stated.

“The humanitarian community is determined to deliver, complementing the vital public services provided by local and state actors,” he added, emphasizing the importance of sustained international solidarity and resources to alleviate the suffering of Ukraine’s people.

Meanwhile, Anastasiia hopes that with the support of local authorities and aid workers, her building will soon be repaired, allowing her and her family to stay in their home and regain a sense of stability.