One year of war in Ukraine. Give now for people facing crisis worldwide. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Today marks one year since the invasion of Ukraine. Mercy Corps has been on the ground since the early days of the war helping families like Olena’s.

Olena, her husband, and their two children could hear the bomb blasts from where they hid in the cellar of their multistory apartment building in Mariupol. From the sounds they heard, they knew their neighborhood was crumbling around them.

Neighbors who attempted to flee returned, unable to get out of the occupied territory, or died on the spot. Olena and her family stayed in the cellar for nearly two weeks with no power and no connection to the outside world.

On March 12, her children’s school was destroyed and they knew they were in danger. Three days later, Olena and her children set off on their five-day trek to the Polish border.
   
 
"We crossed the border early in the morning... The day was sunny and bright, and as we were traveling across Poland, the overall feeling was that of being on another planet. After all the horrors of the trip across Ukraine, the ruined roads or the absence of roads, it was like a dream to us."
 
OLENA, POLAND
 
As Mercy Corps’ communication advisor in Ukraine, this is just one of the stories I have heard from people who have been displaced by the war. Our team and local partners are working day and night to provide cash assistance, essential supplies, safe passage out of occupied territories, and other support for thousands of people who need immediate assistance.

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The damage to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure amidst frigid winter temperatures have made the situation even more dire.

Olga is an administrator at one of Mercy Corps’ partner organizations in Ukraine. She helps families displaced from active combat zones get financial assistance, but the mounting challenges are making it more difficult to distribute aid.
   
 
"People will call us saying over the phone: ‘I can’t come to you because I do not have proper warm clothing for the cold weather outside.’ Indeed, it is horrifying to see how people may be held back by such basic things."
 
OLGA, UKRAINE
 
Mercy Corps and our local partners are purchasing more generators and power banks, and finding alternative ways to deliver cash and other types of support to prepare for the potential of a complete energy grid collapse. We are also delivering additional cash to households to help purchase the supplies they need to withstand the winter.

Your support today can help make a difference. Start a monthly gift today to help people in Ukraine, Syria, and 40+ countries around the world cope, adapt, and thrive in the face of conflict and disaster — all year long.
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Time after time in the months following last February’s invasion of Ukraine, our supporter community has shown that they have not forgotten that people all across the globe are facing crises. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kelsey-Rae Taylor Kelsey-Rae Taylor
Mercy Corps Communications Advisor – Ukraine Response