Winter has arrived in Ukraine, with temperatures in the 30's and 40's at night; by next month the mercury will barely rise above 30 during the day, and drop to the 20's or below at night. As the crisis continues, people are very much concerned about their ability to survive; the cost of living remains substantially elevated while the ability to earn a living becomes more difficult.
In addition to the regular support we provide to more than 50,000 people, we are also responding to the additional needs of winter survival in Ukraine. We recently conducted a survey of the communities we serve throughout the country to ensure we were addressing the most critical issues. The basics of food, medicine and hygiene items top the list for ongoing needs, and for the winter, the greatest needs are warm clothes, battery packs and other emergency items. People are most fearful of losing electricity and heat, leading to significant anxiety regarding their health and safety.
The 150 industrial generators we installed in communal buildings last winter will play a critical role in supplying heat and light to tens of thousands of people this winter. In addition, this year we again distributed battery packs and warm clothes, with more to come in the weeks ahead.
We appreciate the ongoing support from our donors and partner organizations. With your help we save lives and restore hope.
