Ukraine

Emergency shelter, drinking water, home repair, food and cash aid

War has been raging for almost one and a half years now — with catastrophic consequences. More than 17 million people are currently in need of humanitarian aid in Ukraine. According to United Nations estimates, approximately 6.2 million people have been displaced abroad; more than 5 million have become internally displaced in Ukraine (as of July 11, 2023). This is the fastest-growing and largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. The refugees have had to leave everything behind, including loved ones. They need protection, safe shelter, food, hygiene items and the ability to communicate, as well as access to education and work in the medium term.

At the beginning of the war, Helvetas - with the support of Swiss Solidarity and together with Alliance 2015, a network of European NGOs - provided the displaced people from Ukraine with hot meals, mattresses, hygiene items, as well as money credits and vouchers so that they could buy essentials.

In 2022 alone, Helvetas provided humanitarian aid to over 40,500 people in need in Ukraine. In western Ukraine, Helvetas is helping people with drinking water supplies — together with the Swiss organization SKAT Consulting and with DESPRO, a Ukrainian organization. With the support of Swiss Solidarity, Helvetas has already restored access to clean drinking water and improved water supplies for over 30,000 people.

Helvetas is helping to expand emergency shelters for internally displaced persons. These are Ukrainians who had to flee because of the war and are now living in another place in their home country; many were housed in school buildings, among other places, which are now being used for teaching again. Emergency housing had to be found as quickly as possible for the internally displaced people. Helvetas is helping local authorities develop suitable buildings, find the necessary equipment and set up the infrastructure (for example, heating and washing facilities, kitchens).

Through our "Cash for Repairs" program, we support the repair of houses damaged by the war so that people have a roof over their heads, among other things. Those in need receive money and know-how to repair their houses and infrastructure (heaters, doors, windows, etc.) so that they are as habitable as possible.

Helvetas is expanding its emergency aid in Ukraine - also thanks to Swiss Solidarity - to support even more people. Not only in Kiev and Ivano-Frankivsk, but also in Kharkiv and Ternopil. Helvetas supports local, smaller initiatives that take care of aid and reconstruction. For example, we support small workshops - financially and with know-how - so that people can repair destroyed infrastructure themselves. And we rely on so-called circular construction: (War) rubble and used materials are used for reconstruction or recycled for new projects. For example, benches and tables are made from pallets. After the end of the war, Helvetas will intensify the reconstruction - also thanks to the already well-functioning cooperation with the communities and local partner organizations.

The Ukrainian agricultural and food industry has also been affected by the war — including the organic sector, which Helvetas supported before the war. Helvetas continues to support Ukrainian organic farmers. On the one hand, the organic farming families are helping to ensure that the people of Ukraine retain access to healthy, nutritious and sustainably grown food. And on the other hand, it's about ensuring that producers don't lose their livelihoods, but can expand their business relationships and thus hire more workers.

Help in the neighboring country Moldova

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, has taken in many refugees from Ukraine. More than 870,000 people (as of 07/24/2023) have fled across the Moldovan-Ukrainian border since the war broke out. Most arrive with very little besides the clothes on their backs.

Thanks to Internet access, refugees can make phone calls to relatives and organize their onward travel, and children can participate in digital education. In rest areas, particularly vulnerable refugees are provided with the essentials. Transport buses — which are also organized by Helvetas — take the refugees from the border to reception centers or to the capital, Chisinau.

Most of the refugees are living with host families in Moldova. Helvetas, with the support of Swiss Solidarity and the SDC, provides financial assistance to these families — who barely have enough to get by themselves. Read more about this in the country portrait of Moldova.

Enough to eat and an income - even in times of war

The Ukrainian agricultural and food industry has also been affected by the war — including the organic sector, which Helvetas supported before the war. Helvetas continues to support Ukrainian organic farmers. On the one hand, the organic farming families are helping to ensure that the people of Ukraine retain access to healthy, nutritious and sustainably grown food. And on the other hand, it's about ensuring that producers don't lose their livelihoods, but can expand their business relationships and thus hire more workers.