We have helped more than 5 million people. Celebrating 10 years of humanitarian work in Ukraine
Published: Oct 7, 2024 Reading time: 3 minutes
In 2014, People in Need began its humanitarian work in Ukraine with one clear goal – to help those in need. Since then, our team has supported vulnerable groups in eastern Ukraine on both sides of the contact line, delivered food, water and hygiene items. On the second day of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, we swiftly mobilised resources and began providing support. Today, People in Need is a leading humanitarian aid organisation in Ukraine. We have over 300 employees that work from 11 offices across the country to ensure that assistance is provided nationwide.
Since the beginning, our portfolio of aid services has expanded significantly. In addition to meeting emergency needs, we repair homes, provide communities with clean water, create safe spaces for children, repair schools, and issue grants for business development and start-ups. Additionally, we help those who have lost everything due to fighting from the war by providing them with vital financial assistance. Finally, our psychologists run a 24/7 helpline that aids those struggling with various mental health issues.
Over the years, People in Need has built an effective network of over 200 partners. We cooperate with national organisations, civil society initiatives, government authorities, and various academic institutions. These partnerships have allowed us to increase our capacity and help regular people learn to become more self-reliant. We support collective advocacy to protect the rights of those affected by the war and promote effective long-term solutions.
In 10 years, we have:
- repaired over 29,000 homes damaged by shelling
- improved the living conditions in nearly 70 collective centres for people who were forced to leave their homes due to the war
- restored 84 shelters, which has provided people with a safe place to stay during air raids
- aided 42 school repairs, helping students return to in-person instruction.
Paraskeviia Aleksenko from the village of Klymentove in Sumy Oblast shared how important the assistance has been for her: “I was incredibly lucky because when the shelling happened, which damaged my house and my neighbours’ houses, I was hiding in the basement. The blast was so strong that not a single window remained intact, the doors were blown out, and the roof was badly damaged and started leaking with rain. I live alone, and restoring the house on just my pension would have been nearly impossible – it would have taken me years to save up the money. So I don’t know how I would have survived without the financial assistance for repairs from People in Need. I’m very grateful to their team for their compassion and support during this difficult time."
On October 4th, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ukraine hosted an event to mark the 10th anniversary of People in Need.
In his speech, Radek Pech, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ukraine, stated: “Ukraine and its nation experience enormous suffering. And I am really happy that People in Need is active here as never before and continues in its mission. Your activities bring not only material help but also at least a pinch of normality, humanity, and hope for suffering people during these extraordinary cruel times.”
Country Director of People in Need Ukraine, Anna Duda, thanked those who make this assistance possible: “I admire the dedicated PIN team who continuously strategise, secure funding, deliver vital aid amidst dangerous circumstances, and raise awareness among global audiences about the situation in Ukraine. Your commitment has saved and improved many lives. I also express deep gratitude to PIN partners and donors for their unwavering support, which enables us to continue our impactful work.”
Like millions of others, we hope for a swift and just end to the war in Ukraine. We are actively working on recovery plans and believe that, through joint efforts, we can create conditions in which every person in Ukraine can live a dignified life.
