The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on the country's citizens, with many families being forced to flee their homes due to violence and insecurity. As winter sets in, the situation for these displaced individuals and families becomes even more dire, as they struggle to find shelter, warmth, and basic necessities.

According to the International Organization for Migration, close to 6.5 million people have been internally displaced within Ukraine as a result of the conflict¹. Many of these individuals and families have been forced to leave their homes with only the clothes on their backs, and have been forced to seek refuge in overcrowded shelters or with host families².

The living conditions for these displaced families are often dire, with many lacking basic necessities such as food, medicine, and warm clothing. Many of the shelters that they are housed in are overcrowded and lack adequate heating, making it difficult for them to keep warm during the harsh Ukrainian winter³.

The displacement also have a detrimental effect on the children. Many of them have had to leave their schools and communities behind, which has a negative impact on their education, socialization and mental health⁴. They often suffer from anxiety, depression and other psychological trauma caused by the violence and uncertainty of their daily lives⁵.

The Ukrainian government and various aid organizations are working to provide assistance to these displaced families, but the needs are great and resources are limited. The government has set up a system to provide aid such as food, clothing, and medical care to those in need, but the funding is limited and the aid is not reaching all the affected families⁶.

Non-government organizations and charities also play a role in providing assistance to the displaced families⁷. Greater Good Charities has a team on the ground providing urgent relief, and we are in contact with humanitarian and animal welfare partners on the ground responding to the immediate needs of the people and pets of Ukraine⁸. We're providing funding and supplies to help distribute nourishing meals at border crossings for refugees fleeing Ukraine and at shelters and camps for those who remain in the country.

Greater Good Charities’ funding is also helping to support people and pet evacuations from Chernihiv and northern Kyiv regions, food, and other supplies for residents not evacuating, and additional sheltering for pets outside the region until they can be reunited with their families. We've activated our pet foster software for rescue groups to help provide temporary homes for displaced pets.

There are ways that you can help people who are facing a difficult winter in Ukraine.

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More on this issue:

1. International Organization for Migration (21 March 2022), "Almost 6.5 Million People Internally Displaced in Ukraine: IOM."
2. George Ramsay, CNN (21 March 2022), "A quarter of Ukrainians have fled their homes. Here’s where they’ve gone."
3. United Nations (05 May 2022), "Ukraine: Millions of displaced traumatised and urgently need help, say experts."
4. Claire Parker and Bryan Pietsch, The Washington Post (13 April 2022), "Nearly two-thirds of Ukrainian children displaced by war, U.N. says."
5. UNICEF (30 March 2022), "Ukraine: UNESCO’s response to children’s education needs."
6. United Nations (10 November 2022), "Ukraine: UN and partners provide life-saving aid to some 13.5 million."
7. Karina Zaiets, George Petras, USA TODAY (23 May 2022), "What's the best way to donate to Ukraine? Give with your heart, but use your head, experts say."
8. Greater Good, "Crisis in Ukraine: Send Aid Now."