Translated with AI
Residents of Ukraine are preparing for their fourth winter amidst a full-scale war. Civilian infrastructure is currently under enormous strain, and families' resources are stretched to the limit.
Due to severe damage to energy, heating, and plumbing systems, many residential buildings, as well as healthcare and educational institutions, will be without heat, electricity, or water. The situation will only worsen as cold weather approaches. District heating systems have suffered approximately $2.5 billion in damage since February 2022.
Over the past three years, poverty levels among the Ukrainian population have risen, increasing the risks to children's health and well-being, especially in subzero temperatures in the regions hardest hit by the war. Last winter, one in five families reported health problems related to the cold at home.
"Children and families already living under daily stress will now be forced to endure another winter of war," said UNICEF spokesman Munir Mammadzadeh.
“We are working in collaboration with local partners to support vulnerable families and minimize the impact of the winter period,” he added.
UNICEF's response plan for the 2025–2026 winter months is based on past experience and addresses families' needs. Many noted that cash assistance significantly improved their living conditions: 94 percent of families stated that financial support was their most preferred form of winter assistance. Almost all households spent the funds on utilities, heating, and electricity, as well as winter clothing and footwear.
