Restoring hope in Ukraine

When war broke out, 10-year-old Bohdana and her parents fled their home and sought safety in Poland. 

While there, they received word that a neighbour’s house had burned down during the intense fighting in the Kyiv region. They feared the worst for their own home. But when Bohdana’s father, Andrii, returned home, he was relieved to find the house damaged but still standing.

“At least there was hope for living here in the future,” says Andrii. “But everything was riddled with bullet holes and shrapnel. The wind was blowing through the house. The walls were shot through.” 

UNHCR helped the family replace the doors and windows and fix up the damaged roof and walls. Now Bohdana, a promising young musician, can practise piano safely at home – something that brings her peace.  

“I am very happy that I can play,” she says. “When I hear some sad news on the TV, I play the piano and it calms me down.”

Thanks to our generous donors, UNHCR has helped to repair 13,000 houses across Ukraine. 

By providing Ukrainians with the opportunity to move back home, UNHCR is stabilising lives, protecting people from the risks of displacement, and enabling them to live in their communities with dignity.

With your help, UNHCR has assisted:

• 6 million people in Ukraine since the war began
• 148,000 people with shelter or housing support
• 2,900 people affected by the Kakhovka Dam disaster.

Against the backdrop of ongoing missile and drone attacks, UNHCR continues to deliver rapid life-saving humanitarian assistance, including in newly accessible areas of the country. 

In 2023 alone, UNHCR has reached more than 1.8 million people inside Ukraine with aid – including protection services and cash assistance.

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