ACTED Ukraine : providing materials to renovate the houses of people living near the front line

With the financial support from the UK FCDO, Acted is implementing an 11-month project to address the critical humanitarian needs of internally displaced and war-affected people in Ukraine through multi-purpose cash assistance, in-kind food and non-food assistance.

Acted provided electric blankets, winter boots, power banks, torches, stoves, heaters, coal, firewood, building materials, food, and hygiene kits to 3,389 people in Kharkivska and Khersonka and Donetsk oblasts.

People in front line areas must spend hours in cold basements every day because of the bombing. There is no access to food and drinking water. Electricity, gas, heating, and water supply lines are damaged. Although people’s lives are in danger, they stay there because they have no other choice. Some are afraid to leave their homes and belongings unattended, others are afraid of having nowhere to go.

In addition, many collective centres are not properly equipped to meet long-term shelter needs. They need heating, construction repairs, sanitary facilities, and other assistance.

Mrs. Olena is 57 years old. She and her husband live in Huliaipole, in the Zaporizhzhia region, a city seven kilometers from the front line.

Mr. Bohdan* is also a native of Huliapole. He has lived there all his life with his wife and children.

Many Ukrainians have lost their incomes, that is why they often cannot afford temporary housing in safer regions of Ukraine.

Mr. Bohdan’s house was damaged by the bombing, the windows were broken, and the roof was destroyed by the debris.

“Now there are no more shops, no more infrastructure, there is nothing left, only ruins. We used to live quietly and peacefully. I had my own farm, a vegetable garden, an orchard, chickens and even a cow. I sold eggs and milk. That was enough to live on. Now I don’t know how we will live. Our cow was killed by the debris from the bombing and the chickens died too. The orchard burned because of a shell that hit it head-on. There are only ashes left.” said Mr. Bohdan.

Since the beginning of war in February 2022, more than 8 million refugees have crossed into Europe, and about 5.4 million people had to leave their homes and move to safer areas of the country. However, people often have to return to hostile areas because they spent all their savings. According to the International Organization for Migration, 5.5 million Ukrainians had to return home by January 23, 2023.

Acted, in partnership with the civil society organization “Territory of Action”, has distributed 900 wooden boards, tarpaulins, polyethylene films and building fixtures to 200 people living in hard-to-reach areas in the municipality of Huliaipole.

*Names have been changed for protection purposes