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We are here in Ukraine

A terrible war is raging in Ukraine. The Russian invasion has already displaced more than 3.5 million Ukrainians, mainly within Ukraine and neighbouring countries. There they are warmly welcomed, but the need is great. Many IDP's have lost everything. 

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We are here for the people of Ukraine

Ukraine has 44.3 million inhabitants
0
people have fled since the invasion
Half of the refugees are children

A devastating war

Emergency relief trough cash assistence

Homes, schools, hospitals, water installations, power stations: nothing in Ukraine is spared by rockets and bombings. Many Ukrainians fled in haste. Women and children leave the country, men stay behind to fight. Refugees often have to wait for hours at a border post, at night the temperature drops below zero.

ZOA's programme focuses on displaced persons in Transcarpathia. This region is relatively safe, this has led to an influx of extremely large numbers of internally displaced persons, estimated to be half a million. As violence and shelling continues in several major cities, the number of displaced persons is expected to increase in the coming months.

Focus on vulnerable groups

ZOA aims to assist the most vulnerable IDP's. Single mothers with children are given priority, as are the elderly and families with more than three children. An on-site investigation by ZOA's Disaster Response Team has shown that it is precisely these vulnerable people who need cash transfers. Emergency aid specialist Hielke Zantema: “Many people who had a financial buffer have fled the country. The people we are now helping in Ukraine barely have the means to travel. We can help these people quickly and effectively via cash transfers.”

Flexible emergency assistance

Through an online cash transfer system, displaced persons receive monthly credits that they can withdraw both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries. This enables people to provide for their most necessary needs themselves, when they need it. Cash transfers are therefore complementary to the distributions that are currently taking place on a large scale. 

ZOA is collaborating with the Christian Emergency Relief Cluster in this emergency relief campaign. ZOA's efforts are particularly complementary to the activities of aid organisation Dorcas, that also works in Transcarpathia. The organisations coordinate the implementation of their programmes. 

Credit header: Jana Čavojská.

Dorina (14) and Camilla (9)

We fled to Hungary with our mother. We were warmly welcomed by Kinga in her house, with nine other refugees. Our father is still in Ukraine. We have mixed feelings about the situation.