Ukraine

Safe Shelters in Times of War

The war in Ukraine is increasing poverty and damaging houses, leaving many people exposed to the country’s harsh winters. Helvetas is helping to restore destroyed infrastructure and rebuild homes.

Project Name

REFAUK: Repair Facilitation Ukraine
Project Phase

2023 to 2025
Funding

Swiss Solidarity
Thematic focus

Humanitarian Response
WASH & Water Governance

A roof destroyed by rockets. Windows shattered and house walls shredded by cluster bombs. In one place the electricity has been cut. In another, it’s the water supply. Russia's war of aggression is depriving people in many areas in Ukraine of their homes and essential infrastructure, leaving behind distress, poverty and despair.

With the support of Swiss Solidarity, and in cooperation with the Ukrainian NGO DESPRO, Helvetas is working with communities in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions (central and eastern Ukraine) to repair war-damaged homes. We’re also rehabilitating damaged water systems in conflict-affected regions and have reconnected almost 156,000 people to a safe, reliable water supply.

80-year-old Halina Vasilevna and her family spent 20 days in the basement before escaping. When they returned, the house was uninhabitable, with all the windows smashed. Thanks to Repair Facilitation Ukraine and financial support from Helvetas, her house will be repaired soon - May 2023. © Iva Zímová

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A daycare center as it looked before and as it will soon look like, when the broken windows are replaced and electricity is installed - May 2023. © Iva Zímová

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Lyuba's family did not flee because her father is ill. Cluster bombs and rockets destroyed the roof and windows of their house. "My husband was killed. He had just arrived in the car, I was already hiding in the basement. I ran out, but it was already too late” – May 2023. © Iva Zímová

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Local workers are repairing a roof damaged by rockets in Kharkiv - May 2023. © Iva Zímová

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Tonya Vasilivna is delighted with her new windows. "We weren't here when the shrapnel was flying everywhere, destroying our roof, windows and rooms." Now the roof and windows are repaired thanks to the joint efforts of our partner organization DESPRO and Helvetas - May 2023. © Iva Zímová/Panos Pictures

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Helvetas relies on circular construction: nothing is thrown away. Benches and tables are made from used pallets – May 2023. © Iva Zímová/Panos Pictures

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Maria Koval from Kopyliv says she is grateful that she was able to have the masonry of her house repaired – November 2022 © Helvetas/Lesha Berezovskiy

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Lyubov Olhovets from Makariw has received new windows thanks to the financial support of Helvetas – November 2022 © Helvetas/Lesha Berezovskiy

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Valentyna Goretska from Makariw in front of her new windows – November 2022. © Helvetas/Lesha Berezovskiy

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A Moldovan host family in Căuşeni that has taken in a refugee family in their home and is financially supported by Helvetas – März 2022. © Helvetas / Patrick Rohr

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Rehabilitating essential infrastructure

The war has greatly affected public infrastructure. Helvetas is working to ensure that water supply systems, sanitation facilities and wastewater treatment plants are repaired. Sewage systems are being improved where necessary. Shelters housing internally displaced persons are also being equipped with adequate water connections and sanitation facilities. DESPRO, a Ukrainian association specializing in civil engineering projects, is our main implementation partner. Many activities are also directly implemented by smaller Ukrainian organizations based in the target communities.

During Ukraine’s winter months, average temperatures range from -4.8°C to 2°C. 127 collective heating points and consolidated bomb shelters in educational institutions have been equipped with materials and generators. Hence, 19,000 people suffering from the consequences of power and gas shortages are now able to access collective heating points. In educational facilities, the points serve both as educational spaces and as community heating centers for the local population.

The necessary tools to reconstruct

Repair hubs offer know-how, tools and grants

Communities in areas with major damage also lack tools, equipment and guidance on infrastructure repair. Helvetas works with these communities through two repair hubs in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. These centers provide advice, lend tools, promote the circular economy and help to use limited materials carefully. At the same time, these repair hubs provide grants to locally run organizations for projects in the areas of shelter and social safety nets projects. Over 50 grants have been awarded, and over 30,000 people have already benefited from the repair hubs and grants.

Helvetas is also piloting several initiatives to promote circular construction and the reuse of rubble from destroyed buildings. With the support of the Ukrainian organization Rethink and various private sector actors, Helvetas is exploring options for promoting private sector initiatives with local markets based on a circular construction economy.

"Repair Ambulance"

Helvetas equipped Kharkiv with a mobile “repair ambulance”– an initiative in cooperation with volunteers, CSOs and local authorities. If any destruction is detected after Russia's attacks, the repair ambulance teams go to the damaged area to provide quick assistance, such as installing temporary covers on destroyed structures such as windows, doors and roofs. These emergency measures enable the protection of damaged objects from further destruction.

The project will provide insulation and heating aid to vulnerable households impacted by the war. This support could also include grants to local NGOs for enhancing insulation.

The "repair ambulance" provisionally covers doors and windows to protect damaged shelters as quickly and as well as possible until proper repairs can be made.

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