Adapting to life in the midst of conflict requires a continuum of support
Kateryna Alieko
Mercy Corps Communications Manager for Ukraine
Even as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year with no end in sight, residents continue to endure – finding ways to persevere and heal amidst the devastation. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has left more than 14 million people in need of humanitarian aid, internally displacing nearly 4 million residents. Since the escalation in 2022, Mercy Corps has supported more than 860,000 people affected by the conflict in Ukraine and neighboring countries. To meet the specific needs of those whose lives have been upended, Mercy Corps partners with local organizations most familiar with these communities to provide urgent aid to those in active conflict zones, while also offering more long-term support to those building toward self-sufficiency.
Emergency aid continues to meet urgent needs
Mercy Corps supports people in both the immediate aftermath of displacement and during the long road to stability. To help families cope, a continuum of support is necessary. Emergency kits are the most common first step, followed by shelter support, multipurpose cash assistance, and mental health services. Once stabilized, entrepreneurial training and small-business grants support both communities and individuals as they reclaim their lives and their self-sufficiency.
Raisa* didn’t want to leave her hometown in the Donetsk region, but increasing violence and constant explosions forced her to flee to the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia where she’s now living with her daughter and son-in-law. “We need everything,” Raisa said. “We need all the humanitarian aid.” Upon arrival in the new town, Raisa received a hygiene kit distributed by a Mercy Corps partner organization, Pomagaem Charitable Trust. Essentials like hygiene products help to meet the everyday needs of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, as they are often forced to flee with little more than what they are able to carry.
Mental health services create connection
When the full-scale invasion began, Yuliia* and her three children stayed in an underground shelter for five months. Though they’re back in their home now, constant sirens and explosions continue to destabilize their sense of safety. To get out of the house, Yuliia and her two youngest daughters began attending art therapy classes at a community center run by Perspectyva, a Mercy Corps partner. Her daughters feel more at ease and happier there, where they have opportunities to connect and build friendships with the other children.
Sustained access to mental health services is crucial for people who want to go back to work, care for their families, and participate in rebuilding their communities. Yuliia attends group therapy sessions at the center, which make her feel like a weight has been lifted. She gets the support she needs to help process her traumatic experiences. “I can express everything that bothers me here,” she said, “and I feel very lighthearted afterwards.” The connection Yuliia has found at the center makes her feel more hopeful. “There will be peace in this world after all,” she said, “and our children will start to live fully.”
Shelter support and cash assistance provide stability
Mercy Corps helps to provide shelter for internally displaced people through a multipurpose cash assistance program, which allows families to prioritize what they need most, whether it is food, medicine, clothing, basic household items, or housing expenses.
Tetiana, a mother of four, was displaced from her village because of the war. The cash assistance she received through Mercy Corps’ local partner organization Perspectyva, was key to helping secure an apartment in Mykolaiv for several months – freeing up more of her family’s money for food and baby formula for her youngest. While she’s grateful for stable and safe housing, she’s counting the days until it’s safe to return to her village. “[I have] faith in a bright future,” Tetiana said, “that we will return home.”