February 24th marks the sombre two-year anniversary of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a period marred by widespread displacement, unimaginable destruction, and escalating humanitarian needs.
Relentless shelling has taken a catastrophic toll on civilian infrastructure, with healthcare facilities, homes, water and electricity supplies, and schools destroyed.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a staggering 17.6 million people in Ukraine urgently require humanitarian support, with 14.6 million in need of vital medical care. Alarmingly, in areas near the front lines, where assistance is most crucial, only a mere 4% of humanitarian aid is reaching those in dire need.
“There is a growing need for humanitarian assistance in the Kharkiv region, “says Marie Lamothe, Action Against Hunger’s field coordinator in Kharkiv. “The region has the highest concentration of internally displaced people in the country, with over 600,000 displaced people.”
Access to food and water remains a significant challenge, with approximately one-third of Ukrainians now facing food insecurity.
Throughout the conflict, the agriculture sector has suffered major damages and losses, which is having a devastating impact on farmers and families.
“Before the war, my husband worked the land, and I helped him. But now we have no work because all the land is mined,” says Valentyna Balan, a small-scale farmer who lives in Ivanivka, close to the frontline.
According to local authorities, some 170,000 kilometers of Ukrainian territory are covered with explosives, making it one of the largest minefields in the world.
As food stocks run out and farmers are increasingly unable to tend their land, food prices continue to rise, with many people now unable to access or afford nutritious food.
The ongoing war has taken a heavy toll on the people of Ukraine. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10 million Ukrainians are grappling with some form of psychological trauma, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
“One day, I was in the park, and there was a kindergarten nearby. They say soldiers lived there, but it was the park that was bombed. The shell landed five meters from me. I covered my friend to protect him, and now I have two wounds on my legs. It’s a miracle we survived. At that moment, I realized how much I wanted to live,’” says Maksim, a 15-year-old Ukrainian.
When the conflict in Ukraine began, our teams quickly mobilized to support refugees and vulnerable Ukrainian families. Today, that work continues.
Since March 2022, we’ve provided humanitarian support to more than 1.5 million people across Ukraine.
Our teams are working with local partners to improve food security, provide healthcare and mental health support, and guarantee access to clean water, safe toilets, and good hygiene.
“We didn’t stop working a single day to provide our services to the people of Kharkiv. During the hostilities, our employees worked to repair the extensive damage we suffered. […] Without the help of our partners, including Action Against Hunger, we really don’t know how we could have continued to deliver our services,” says Hrushchak Taras, Commercial Director of the Vodokanals in Kharkiv.
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 56 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
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