Ukraine: Signs of hope in war

Nothing is the same anymore. For Ukrainians, the world changed on February 24, 2022. The war has left its mark—on the country, but also on the people themselves. According to UN Refugee Aid, 12.7 million people are now dependent on humanitarian aid. arche nova has been supporting those affected since the beginning of the war with relief supplies and reconstruction efforts.

The psychological strain on people in the war zones is enormous. Many of them have lost loved ones and live in constant fear of the next bomb alert. We offer psychosocial counseling to help them cope with their fears and overcome their trauma. To this end, we work closely with the team at AWO International, which has many years of experience in strengthening social structures in crisis areas.

3.8 million people are currently displaced within Ukraine. Those who cannot flee or who fear the exhausting and uncertain journey remain behind. For them—the elderly, the sick, people with disabilities, widows, and their children—life is becoming more difficult with each passing day. Many of them are traumatized by their experiences in the war zone and are forced to live in degrading conditions. We therefore pay particular attention to them when organizing the humanitarian aid we provide on the ground.

People's homes lie in ruins

During the winter months, temperatures in northeastern Ukraine drop well below freezing. Heated accommodation is lifesaving during this time. However, existing heating systems have been destroyed in many regions of Ukraine, and even electric heaters do not offer reliable protection from the cold due to the unreliable power supply. To ensure that people in the affected areas are not left exposed to the freezing temperatures, we distribute fuel such as wood briquettes.

However, this is often not enough. Countless houses have been severely damaged in the rocket attacks and have become uninhabitable as a result. That is why we are actively providing reconstruction aid in the affected regions. This includes repairing heating systems and lighting, as well as roofing and replacing windows. Those who are able to repair their own homes receive tools and building materials from us to do so themselves. However, older people in particular are often unable to do so.

One family we were able to help repair their home is that of Iryna Konovalova. She lives with her mother Lyudmyla and her son Pavlik in Staryj Saltiw, a village near the Russian border. Iryna moved here because of her mother's cancer; she previously lived in Volchansk.

The 52-year-old has to provide for her small family on her own. Her father died last year, and shortly afterwards she lost her second son. She saves what is left of her small income at the end of the month for expensive chemotherapy. As a result, she was unable to replace the windows that were broken during the attacks on Staryj Saltiw for a long time.

arche nova replaced the windows in the house and purchased some household appliances so that Iryna can take good care of her family. “I came here with nothing, just my child by the hand and our documents. We met people here who helped us. That means a lot to us,” she says.

In addition to Iryna's home, arche nova has now made almost 600 houses habitable again. Non-profit institutions such as schools, kindergartens, and social centers have also been renovated. Two of the rebuilt kindergartens now have an air-raid shelter that offers protection in the event of another attack.

Safe drinking water: anything but a given in a war zone

In many municipalities in Ukraine, the water supply has collapsed or is severely restricted. The settlement of Voskresensk in the Mykolaiv Oblast has also had to contend with repeated outages. The aging water tower urgently needed to be replaced, but the local utility company lacked the funds to do so.

arche nova installed a new water tower that holds 25 cubic meters of water and supplies 7,500 people, including a daycare center, a cultural center, and several shops. The people of Voskresensk now have clean water available at all times. Even if the power goes out, the system continues to run smoothly for up to six hours.

Local utilities often lack the materials and technical equipment needed to repair damaged water and wastewater infrastructure. arche nova provides utilities with the necessary technology and assists with repair work, drilling, the installation of water storage facilities, and water quality monitoring.

The bombs are also falling on schools, kindergartens, and hospitals

The war does not spare social institutions either. Many of them have fallen victim to the massive bombing since the war began. One of the institutions that has been severely damaged is the daycare center in Okhtyrka, a small town in northeastern Ukraine. It is called “Kazka,” which means “fairy tale” in English.

“The damage caused by the rocket attack has made our daily work very difficult and restricted,” says Olena Gorobets, head of the kindergarten in Ochtyrka. Even before the bombing, the facilities were outdated, but after the attack, it was almost impossible to meet the hygiene requirements for preschool facilities. The damage created additional barriers, especially for the 21 children with special needs.

By renovating some of the washrooms and toilets, arche nova has created an age- and needs-appropriate environment that enables the children to enjoy a hygienic daycare routine.

Many years of experience in Ukraine

arche nova has been active in Ukraine since 2015. After the war began, we significantly expanded our activities. As part of our current emergency and reconstruction aid measures, we are providing particular support to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and sick, people with disabilities, widows, female-headed households, and children.