Ukraine: Signs of hope in war

Nothing is as it was. For Ukrainians, the world changed on 24 February 2022. The war has left its mark – on the country, but also on the people themselves. According to the UN Refugee Agency, 10.8 million people are now dependent on humanitarian aid. Since the start of the war, arche nova has been supporting those affected by providing relief supplies and assisting with reconstruction.

The psychological strain faced by people in the war zones is enormous. Many of them have lost loved ones and live in constant fear of the next air-raid warning. Through our psychosocial support services, we help them cope with their fears and come to terms with their trauma. To this end, we work closely with the team at AWO International, which has many years’ experience in strengthening social structures in crisis-hit areas.

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

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.