Three years in Ukraine
Three years ago today, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine turned the lives of millions of people upside down. With fighting ongoing, 3.6 million Ukrainians are still internally displaced, and nearly 7 million more living as refugees around the world. After three years of constant war, humanitarian needs only continue to grow.
Today, as we look back on three years of continued support, and think ahead to the ongoing humanitarian needs, we’d like to share a few of the ways that our incredible teams, based in Kyiv and Odesa are supporting communities across Ukraine.
IsraAID water stations are providing safe water to Ukrainian communities. Over the last three years, we have installed 15 reverse osmosis stations in the city of Mykolaiv, another 10 across Mykolaivska Oblast, and another 20 aquaboxes across the villages of Mykolaivska and Dnipropetrovska Oblasts. In addition, IsraAID has rehabilitated eight boreholes, and provided advanced power wall systems to ensure that water pumps can adapt to frequent blackouts. We have provided over 25 million liters of safe water to hundreds of thousands of people, and have ensured that local water authorities have the skills to maintain them.
As part of the First Lady of Ukraine’s initiative to support mental health of citizens in wartime, IsraAID has trained over 100 psychologists to work in Ukrainian hospitals. The psychologists support patients, their families, and medical staff, providing psychological first aid, psychosocial support, and professional advice on self-care and preventing burnout. In 10 hospitals across Ukraine, IsraAID trained psychologists are already providing critical support in this high-stress environment. This program is the first time that mental health care has been integrated into Ukrainian hospitals. IsraAID is now working together with the Ukrainian government to help adapt the program and implement it nationwide with state funding.
During wartime, many people lose access to primary care medicine. In small villages in the south of Ukraine, IsraAID’s School of Health is helping bridge the gap. IsraAID brings public health efforts to these villages to give talks on preventative health measures that keep communities healthy in the long-run and ease the burden on health centers.
First responders are more important than ever as constant shelling creates daily emergencies across the country. IsraAID is working to ensure that first responders have the skills they need to respond effectively in any situation. IsraAID runs trainings in first aid, psychological first aid, self-care, and burnout prevention for first responders, members of the Ukrainian railway system, teachers, and more. By training first responders, IsraAID helps make sure that when an emergency occurs, help is always nearby.
Across Ukraine, many children have not been able to attend school for years. Even before the war, children only had online schooling during the coronavirus pandemic. IsraAID’s Quokka Hubs are safe places for children and teens to gather, process their emotions through art and play, and learn the emotional skills that can help them navigate this difficult period. The hubs’ mascot – the quokka – is a sweet Australian animal that always seems to be smiling. Across the country, these hubs are a refuge amid the chaos for thousands of children. To support physical as well as emotional safety, IsraAID has erected shelters at hub locations where none were present – ensuring that activities can continue even during air raid sirens.
Three years into this crisis, we know there is still a long road ahead. Even if the war ends today, rebuilding will take years, if not decades. IsraAID remains committed to Ukraine – not only providing urgently needed aid but helping strengthen the resources and resilience that already exists in these communities.
We are so grateful to all those who have and continue to support this urgent work. To join us, please visit Israaid.org/donate
