Amidst all that’s going on around the world, we cannot look away from the ongoing war in Ukraine, where women like Alina are still delivering support to survivors of violence as the conflict nears its third year.

Ukrainian war survivor receives UNFPA care package

In Alina’s home of Korosten, the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion was felt from the first hours.

"We were under fire, we saw tanks and heard everything. It was really scary. When you see these real events in front of you, you realize that this is not a dream and you are not imagining things. This is war," Alina recalled.

But even despite the rapid advance of Russian troops into Ukraine, Alina, a social worker with 17 years of experience in the field, was determined to stay and support her community.

"It was very scary, but I had no idea of leaving my home,” Alina told us. She started volunteering by doing what she does best — calming people down to stabilize their emotional state.

Alina joined the work of a mental health support mobile team for survivors of violence, launched with the support of UNFPA thanks to gifts from supporters like you. Her experience has allowed her not only to help families who come to the mobile clinic, but also to identify cases of violence among those in difficult life circumstances.

An influx of displaced refugees into the city from regions where active hostilities are ongoing have made work especially challenging for mobile teams, since it can often be difficult for people to find a common language.

As war rages on in Ukraine, volunteers like Alina are counting on your support to continue reaching women and girls impacted by violence with urgently needed psychosocial care.

Will you make an emergency gift to help deliver care, resources, and services to the women and girls living through conflict in Ukraine and beyond?

Amid the stressful nature of the work and the constant tension due to the city's proximity to the border, it can be difficult for specialists to cope psychologically with anxiety. But Alina says she is inspired by the positive solutions to her clients' situations:

"When you see the result you're involved in, it's like wings grow. Sometimes people come with their children and thank us. There was a case when we transported a survivor to a safe place. She thanked us for a long time afterward. I still remember the warmth of her hands," she told us.

Thank you for playing a role in making this work possible.

— USA for UNFPA