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Ukraine Appeal update: Two years on since the invasion

20 February 2024
Ivanna DePaul Ukraine food distribution

Ivanna*, 59, receives a food parcel from CAFOD’s local partner Depaul Ukraine at their Humanitarian Centre for people who have lost their homes in Odesa, Ukraine. (Photo credit: Maciek Musialek/DEC)

It’s been two years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has forced over 5 million people from their homes and left 6.3 million seeking refuge outside the country.

Your generous contributions to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal have helped over 140,000 vulnerable women, men and children access vital aid including food, water, shelter and counselling support.

Thanks to you, our local partners are helping people to rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma, losing loved ones, homes and livelihoods.  

The need in Ukraine remains high

Over 17 million people in Ukraine require urgent humanitarian assistance.

With your support and prayers, we continue to reach those who are caught up in this conflict, often left with nothing.

Prayers of intercession for Ukraine

How your donations have helped

We have been working with local partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries since the full-scale invasion of the country in 2022.   

Due to the conflict and harsh winters, many vulnerable people - including women, children, older people and those with special needs - don’t have access to enough food or hot meals. Our local partners Caritas Ukraine and Depaul Ukraine have been distributing food baskets and drinking water, and offering hot meals, emergency medical support, hygiene kits and counselling to those in need.  

“Depaul is constantly adjusting projects to meet people's greatest needs - it's our biggest challenge and our priority. We are prioritising in-kind needs [material aid] around the frontline, and as you move away from it, we are supporting people who are more in need of mental health counselling, employment, and housing.”

Dmytro Dmytrenko, Depaul Ukraine, Director of Programmes

Surviving the harsh winter

Shelling, airstrikes and other destruction from the war has left thousands of people in Ukraine living in damaged buildings or left homeless, often with disrupted access to electricity and heating.  

CAFOD has been working with local partners Depaul Ukraine and Caritas Ukraine in places like Kharkiv, Kyiv and Odesa, offering temporary shelter and long-term housing to internally displaced people, repairing damaged homes and providing winter supplies including warm clothing, firewood and fuel generators to keep people warm during the harsh winter during which temperatures can drop to -20°C.