According to the latest report of the World Food Programme on food security in Ukraine, one out of three families suffers from hunger, especially among those forced to flee their homes and find refuge in other areas of the country.
The Kharkiv Oblast (region) continues to register the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs): around 450,000 people; while in the Poltava Oblast and Sumy together there are 270,000 displaced persons (source: IOM).
"In the aftermath of the war outbreak – Elga Contardi, AVSI project manager in Ukraine, explains – we investigated to verify what the more urgent needs to be met were. Months later, food security continues to be a problem for many families: some parents are giving up their food to feed their children."
Thanks to the funds provided by the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, channelled through the intergovernmental organization of Eastern Europe Central European Initiative (CEI) AVSI and its partners have been able to guarantee 400 vulnerable families the supply of essential goods, effectively contributing to their sustenance and food requirements. Among the goods supplied, there are Ready-to-Eat products (ReT) such as legumes, vegetables, corn, biscuits, crackers, meat, and canned fish, so that the 400 families have food always available despite the lack of gas and electricity.
The present situation in Ukraine
Airstrikes, explosions and bombings targeting key facilities continue all over Ukraine's eastern and southern zones. It has been estimated that, since October, 40% of the energy infrastructure has been damaged. Despite the efforts to repair the damage done in the shortest amount of time, access to essential services such as water, electricity, and gas keeps being interrupted, making everyday life harder and more unstable for Ukrainians.
The beginning of winter, with fewer light hours and extremely severe temperatures, has further exacerbated the very difficult conditions caused by the war.
In the oblast of Poltava, especially in Sumy and Kharkiv, where hostilities have never ceased, the schools had to shut down. While men are fighting on the frontlines, women are often forced to give up any income-generating activity to stay at home and take care of their children. Although the Ukrainian population is being denied all sorts of different needs due to the war, access to food and supply of essential goods continue to be among the most pressing and constant needs - not only for those who fled their homes, but also for the host population.
Ongoing hostilities, difficulties accessing locations, reduced market trade and security concerns affect families' resources and resilience capabilities. The Russian invasion of Ukraine created 15.7 million people in need and led to the internal displacement of about 8 million civilians (source: OCHA - Humanitarian Impact)
Just in the oblasts of Kharkiv, Sumy and Poltava there are over 2.5 million people in need.
AVSI response to fight food insecurity in Ukraine
Thanks to funding from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, 400 people received a two-month supply of food and essential goods: internally displaced persons, people of the hosting community, elders and their families, people with disabilities or suffering from chronic illnesses, low-income families with elders, families with children, one-parent families with children, children with disabilities, low-income families with children, orphans or foster children.
