Ukraine: Emergency aid for children and families

Enough food. A roof over their heads and a safe place to play. Medicine and medical care when sick or injured. These are basic needs that are not guaranteed for millions of children in Ukraine week after week. After four years of relentless attacks, the people of the country still urgently need emergency aid and support.
 

Russia is deliberately destroying civilian infrastructure, repeatedly cutting people off from electricity, heating, water, internet, and telephone services. The war has also triggered the largest refugee crisis Europe has seen since World War II: according to UN statistics, 3.7 million people are internally displaced, and more than 5.5 million have fled outside the country. Approximately 2 million children are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

“Unfortunately, the need to mitigate the immediate consequences of the war remains enormous,” says Lesya Levko, project coordinator for the aid organization “CAMZ.” “It’s always the most urgent basic needs, such as providing housing, food, and support during the winter.”

CAMZ, the "Committee of Medical Aid in Zakarpattya," is part of the Terre des Hommes community project to "Improve the Protection of Children in Emergency Situations." The project provides direct emergency aid to children and their families: volunteers distribute food, hygiene kits, and blankets to people in need and help refugees find shelter. Childcare facilities—orphanages, hospitals, and emergency shelters—are also supplied with urgently needed goods. In addition, the project creates new psychosocial support and trauma services for children—from therapy sessions to play and recreational activities in safe, protected spaces.

Help for more than 250,000 children and their families 

When the project began, its ambitious goal was to improve the humanitarian situation of more than 160,000 people in Ukraine. This goal has since been far exceeded: 259,496 war-affected children, family members, and caregivers have received assistance. The project has also been extended until the end of 2026.

The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. Five partner organizations in Ukraine – CAMZ, Vplyv Fund, NUMO, SiLab Ukraine and Yellow and Blue Wings Fund – have joined forces with ChildFund Germany and Terre des Hommes to create effective emergency relief structures and networks.

The project is thus able to adapt aid quickly and effectively to the constantly changing realities of war – and to seize opportunities as they arise. "It's still a matter of putting out fires. There's practically always an emergency need somewhere, and we try to use our emergency aid to help the people who need it most urgently," Lesya Levko summarizes. "We thank everyone who is supporting Ukraine during this difficult time."