[ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps

Dear friend,

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of
Ukraine reaches the two-year mark, Mercy Corps remains steadfast in
providing ongoing relief to families affected by the conflict.


The scale of humanitarian need is immense: 6.9 million people have been
forced to flee Ukraine and 3.7 million people are internally displaced.
Even for those who have returned homes, their lives remain upended,
remaining constantly vigilant about their safety and lacking economic
opportunities.

Within days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mercy Corps was on
the ground delivering supplies and helping families find safe passage to
places to stay. Read on below for the stories of families we’ve helped in
Ukraine.


After loss, a new pursuit


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
Eduard and Rima said the first days of the full-scale war were the hardest
for their young family.


Just before the war began, Eduard and his wife, Rima, welcomed their new
baby, Samuel, into the world. Eduard was working in a factory while Rima
stayed home to take care of their newborn and their two-year-old, Lora.

Then the shelling began, terrifying the children. Lora would scream for
help with each explosion. As the attacks came closer, a bomb fell on their
neighbor’s property, shattering the windows of their home — but,
thankfully, no one was injured.

The factory closed, leaving Eduard without work or a way to support his
family. That’s when he began teaching himself about home repair. He began
with light drywall and mudding work to repair their living room, and then
made his way through the rest of the house, learning more about the trade
with each room. He and a friend soon decided to take on clients.

The family has received cash assistance from Mercy Corps while Eduard
grows his new business. With winter setting in, it allowed the family to
adequately prepare and ensure their children have enough food, clothing,
warmth, and a safe space to call home.


Starting over


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
Anton is determined to rebuild his business in Lviv. "We don’t have hope,"
he says. "We have plans."


Anton wanted to be a business owner his entire life. He made his dream a
reality when he opened his furniture company in Kreminna just before the
full-scale war.

One day, while waiting on a platform at the railway station on his commute
home, he saw a military train heading in the opposite direction. It was
full of tanks, weapons, and ammunition — and headed for the Russian
border. He knew this was the beginning of the war.

The next morning, Anton, his girlfriend, and his dog, along with a few
friends, fled from Kharkiv, leaving his business behind. They ultimately
settled in Lviv.

He found work at an IT company to earn income, but he still had a passion
for his business. So he found a factory in Lviv, hired the first few
staff, and started over. With a grant from Mercy Corps, he purchased eight
pieces of the equipment he had lost to the war.

Anton plans to continue scaling up, creating job opportunities for others
displaced by the war, and giving back to the community that helped him.
"[When we escaped to western Ukraine,] they helped us, they gave us
clothes, like mattresses, pillows, blankets, and everything," he says.
"And maybe now it’s our turn."


Missing home


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
In the first days of the war, Tetiana and her family spent most of their
scant income on food but had no way to provide baby formula for their
youngest child, Eva.


Tetiana, her husband, and their four children stayed in their home in
Mykilske through the first year of the war — through explosions, through
Russian control of their village, and through a flood. In the last months,
the explosions were so frequent and close that they could not leave their
home except out of absolute necessity.

When a mandatory evacuation order came from the Ukrainian government for
all families with children , Tetiana, her mother, Helyna, and her
two-year-old, Eva fled to Mykolaiv. Her husband and her youngest son
stayed behind to care for their animals. Her two older children, who are
19 and 21, found safe housing in other parts of Ukraine.

With cash assistance from Mercy Corps, Tetiana secured a furnished
apartment. The support was critical — the family had been relying on
Helyna’s pension and stipend from the state to pay for food, but didn’t
have enough to secure housing.

While they are grateful to be safe, both Tetiana and Helyna are counting
the days until their village is safe enough to return to. "Of course, I
want to go home," Tetiana says. "If there was an opportunity, I would go
home today, by God."


Our
global community is critical to helping people in places like Ukraine
recover and rebuild from conflict and disaster. [ [link removed] ]Will
you consider making a donation today to help people in crisis zones around
the world?


[ [link removed] ]Give now [ [link removed] ]▸


Mercy Corps has reached 1.2 million people in collaboration with our
partners on the ground — and another 2.1 million people were reached
through information campaigns. We are committed to getting emergency
assistance to as many families as possible as the conflict continues — and
helping rebuild their lives and livelihoods long after.

Sincerely,

Mercy Corps

[ [link removed] ]DONATE

[ Facebook ]Facebook [ Twitter ]Twitter [ Instagram ]Instagram [ LinkedIn ]LinkedIn [ YouTube ]YouTube

[ [link removed] ]mercycorps.org | [ tel:+18887477440 ](888) 747‑7440 | Portland, OR

Mercy Corps, Dept. W, National Processing Center
P.O. Box 37800, Boone, IA 50037-4800

© 2024 [ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps
[ [link removed] ]Privacy Policy | [ [link removed] ]Manage Preferences | [ [link removed] ]Unsubscribe


You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]