January 2024 – KYIV, Ukraine. Through a Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF)-funded intervention that started in November 2023, Acted aims to respond to the winterization needs faced by vulnerable individuals in isolated, frontline, and recently accessible communities in the North, East and South of Ukraine.
During this 6 month-project, Acted will mitigate the impact of harsh winter conditions, exacerbated by damaged housing and destruction of energy and heating infrastructure due to targeted airstrikes.
An estimated 1.4 million homes in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed since the escalation of the war. Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructures and water networks have deprived thousands of civilians of at least temporary access to electricity, water, heating and related essential services — which could cause life-threatening conditions in the harsh winter months.
Malokaterynivka village is 15 km away from the frontline in Zaporizska Oblast and it is affected by shelling. Mrs. and Mr. Melnyk are retirees from Malokaterynivka village. They received 6 m3 of firewood under this project:
I have never seen such a quantity of firewood in my yard, we are very grateful to you. It is very difficult to find the opportunity to buy it ourselves, and there is almost nothing left to cut, and I have no strength left.
Under this project, Acted distributes solid fuel, winter items kits, provides installation of stoves, and cash assistance. The aid is provided directly by Acted and through a network of more than 150 partner local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Through this project, Acted will also provide grants to sub-partner CSOs, so they can distribute cash-for-heating, solid fuel and winterization Non-Food Items (NFIs) to households in conflict-affected communities, ensuring they are better equipped to meet their basic shelter needs during the entire winter period.
My husband now doesn’t have to climb trees without having to cut dry branches, we can heat the stove in plenty, and with the money we saved we can spend more on medicines we desperately need.
This project plans to target around 21,000 conflict-affected Ukrainians who will directly be supported by cash and in-kind assistance in Sumska, Chernihivska, Kharkivska, Donetska, Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Khersonska, and Mykolaivska oblasts. Focus will be put on rural and frontline areas, most exposed to winter-related hazards and hardest to reach, thereby receiving less humanitarian assistance.
Contact: Frances Oppermann / Deputy Country Coordinator Programmes / frances.oppermann@acted.org