CARE International UK

11/19/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/19/2024 05:46

Ukraine: What does it feel like to live in a warzone for 1,000 days

1,000 days since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the impact on civilians in Ukraine remains staggering. Since February 24, 2022, at least 11,973 civilians have been killed and 25,943 injured.

The scale of internal displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with 3.6 million internally displaced people registered across Ukraine. Almost 60% of displaced people are women and girls. A further 4.2 million citizens of Ukraine have the status of temporary protection in EU countries.

With winter approaching, the widespread destruction of infrastructure compounds these hardships. Almost 144,000 residential buildings, more than 1,900 healthcare facilities, and nearly 3,800 schools and educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed in indiscriminate attacks in the last 1,000 days. This devastation has left countless families struggling to find safe accommodation, and access medical care and essential services.

We spoke with women living in eastern Ukraine about what it has felt like to live in a warzone for 1,000 days. This is what they told us.

Olha

This is living on a powder keg. Today a person lives, and tomorrow they are gone. It's scary to even imagine a situation when you go out and see a child urinating on himself, and both parents are dying in front of him. Now this child walks around and does not react to the reality around him.

As a mother, as a woman, as a grandmother, I believe that this is no way to live. And you wouldn't even wish it on your enemy. It is better for no one to ever see what war is."

Natalia

Sitting in a cold basement, wrapped in a carpet. It is very scary. We really miss peace. We all want our children and grandchildren to come back and happiness to return. I want everyone to be happy and never know what it was like to live in war for 1000 days."

Marina

It's a thousand days of anxiety, a thousand days of fear, 1000 days of learning about the death of loved ones and losing them. Seeing people crippled. This is devastation. This is a lot of misery, grief and death."

Alla

This is a state of waiting. Every day you are scrolling the news and expect good news about some logical conclusion. We are in a pause. Everyone is waiting and living in hope."

Larysa

These thousand days are very hard. Extremely difficult. Hospitals and other social infrastructure are no longer working in the city. Communication is poor, the city is badly damaged.

I am sick and disabled and need constant medication. If our house is destroyed, I don't know how we will continue to live: where and on what? We need your support."

How you can help

CARE and our partner organisations in Ukraine have provided support to almost 1.5 million Ukrainians. However, as winter approaches, freezing temperatures will only intensify the humanitarian crisis. More humanitarian support is urgently needed, including shelter repairs, winter clothes and fuel for heating.

If we don't act now, thousands of women and their families will go to sleep freezing cold in some of the world's most dangerous places. In Ukraine. In Syria. In Gaza. Please donate to our urgent winter appeal today to help provide warmth, shelter and supplies to women who urgently need them. Every donation will help save lives.