A bitter chill: the third winter of unrelenting war
Winter is already harsh for children. Imagine how much worse it is for displaced children in Ukraine, barely surviving without necessities. For millions of children like Daniil in Ukraine, winter is no longer a season to enjoy warm meals or sleep snugly under cozy blankets. Instead, it is a season of uncertainty, where freezing temperatures and the brutality of war take a devastating toll on their mental health and bodies.
Credits: © UNICEF/UNI691836/Oleksandr Pecherytsia
Description: 10-month-old Daniil plays in his home in Vyrishalne, Poltava region, Ukraine.
Children in Ukraine are in dire need of help
Every war is a war against children. The conflict in Ukraine has driven over 14.6 million people—many of them children—to the edge, forcing them to endure loss, displacement, cold and poverty for more than 1,000 days. And the toll continues to rise as you read these words!
We cannot turn our backs on these children. Let’s remind them that they are not forgotten and that hope still exists.
Credits: © UNICEF/UNI68375/Oleksii Filippov
Description: Katya, an internally displaced mother, stands with her son, Andriy (5), and daughter, Halyna (14), outside their rented home in Khotimlya, Kharkiv region, Ukraine.
UNICEF’s response on the ground
“Everything runs using the boiler – heating and hot water. Thanks to UNICEF, we have received heating briquettes to fuel the boiler. They should get us through the winter,” explains Katya, a 36-year-old mother who is displaced with her husband, mother, grandmother, and two children.
UNICEF support did not stop here for Katya and her family. After applying, Katya is also set to receive financial support from UNICEF. She plans to use the funds to buy warm winter clothes for her children.
In 2024, UNICEF has provided:
- Cash for winterization to 64,415 people, including 27,738 children.
- Water for drinking and domestic needs for 5,092,424 people.
- 30,000 doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine to ensure a timely response before the flu season.
- Primary health care services to 1,070,422 children and caregivers.
- Formal and informal education, including early learning to 452,712 children. This winter, UNICEF, with local authorities and partners, will help keep some 1.2 million people, including 200,000 children, warm. We’ll provide cash assistance, solid fuel, winter clothing, blankets, and support for health, education, water, and heating systems to protect families from the cold.
This winter, UNICEF, with local authorities and partners, will help keep some 1.2 million people, including 200,000 children, warm. We’ll provide cash assistance, solid fuel, winter clothing, blankets, and support for health, education, water, and heating systems to protect families from the cold.
Remember, every donation counts.
Here’s how you can support children this freezing winter
Your donation, no matter the amount, holds immense value. What truly matters is your willingness to stand in solidarity with the children in their struggle for survival during these coldest months. Your gift is not just money––it is a beacon of hope for tomorrow, a step toward a brighter future, and a chance for a warm home. Give what you can, so together we can provide:
Winter Supplies
To equip children with warm clothes and cozy blankets, helping them cope with below-freezing temperatures.
Education
To empower children to catch up on their learning and dream of a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
Cash-for-Winterization Assistance
To support children and their families in their daily struggles and help them make ends meet this winter.