Everyday life during the war in Ukraine: arche noVa gives people hope

"We are very worried about our son. He is fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces," says Oleksandr Tkachenko. The 68-year-old lives with his wife Valentina in Hostomel, a village in the Kyiv oblast. Since his son was called up by the military, he and Valentina have been looking after the children. Fortunately, the family survived the bombing of their house. But because it was uninhabitable afterwards, the grandparents lived in a container home with their grandchildren for a long time. "arche noVa took over the replacement of the damaged windows, the renovation of the roof and the repair of the heating system. This support means a lot to us because we have been able to live in our house again ever since," says Oleksandr Tkachenko

Just a few houses away lives 82-year-old Sofiia Stepaniuk. She didn't flee the fighting either, because her family needs her here. Her daughter lives with a disability and her granddaughter has been mentally ill since the start of the war. Despite her advanced age, the pensioner looks after her two relatives. A lot of things were broken in Sofia Stepaniuk's house during the bombing - including the washing machine and the heating system. The family therefore had to leave their home during the winter. They could not afford an electric heating system as a temporary solution. arche noVa has now installed a new heating system, enabling them to return to their home. The family has also received a new washing machine.

Particularly high burden for older and impaired people

Many people in Ukraine feel like Oleksandr Tkachenko and Sofiia Stepaniuk. Their everyday lives have been shattered by the destruction and supply shortages in all areas of life. "The need for humanitarian aid has continued to grow over the past two years, especially for people living in rural areas near the front line who are unable to flee the war," says Dmytro Drizhd, Head of our Ukraine country office. Elderly and disabled people who cannot easily leave their homes for fear of a stressful and uncertain escape are particularly affected. "Thanks to our cooperation with local partner organisations, we can reach these people who are particularly dependent on support," adds Drizhd. "arche noVa is making a big difference for them with the repair work and distributions and giving them back a bit of stability."

arche noVa has been supporting people in the embattled eastern Ukraine since 2015. The country programme was greatly expanded with the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. As part of the current emergency and reconstruction aid measures, we are particularly supporting vulnerable groups such as the elderly and sick, people with disabilities, widows, women-headed households and children.