UNHCR helps protect people’s homes with emergency shelter support after attacks
UNHCR helps protect people’s homes with emergency shelter support after attacks
Eduard, 57, in his neighborhood affected by an aerial strike.
Dnipropetrovsk region in Eastern Ukraine has become a key humanitarian hub while still remaining exposed to frequent missile and drone attacks due to its proximity to frontline areas. Within the region, residents of Kryvyi Rih — a major industrial city — face ongoing insecurity and repeated damage to homes. Eduard Vashchenko, 57, lives here with his family, in a city where air raids and explosions have become part of daily life. He shares an apartment with his wife, daughter, and two-year-old grandson. He also takes care of his 85-year-old mother, who lives nearby. She developed a disability following a stroke and lost her eyesight, requiring constant care.
One of the most severe strikes hit just 20 metres from their building, shattering windows, damaging the balcony and walls, and sending missile fragments into their apartment.
“My wife is traumatized after the third strike and still does not want to return to the apartment,” Eduard says. “We are still cleaning the apartment after the attack in January, and continue finding missile fragments,” he adds.
His mother’s building was also significantly damaged, with the roof torn off — something the family had experienced before. The attacks took place during the winter, when particularly freezing temperatures in January further intensified already desperate living conditions for the many affected families. Emergency tarpaulin and plastic sheeting provided by Proliska, one of UNHCR’s NGO partner, became a vital temporary solution, helping residents cover shattered roofs and windows before more permanent repairs could begin.
“After the attack, it rained for three days. Thanks to the tarpaulin and plastic sheeting we received, water did not enter the apartment. In some apartments, the tarpaulin and plastic are still in place,” says Eduard. Due to the damage and low temperatures, the family was forced to sleep in clothes, using blankets and sleeping bags for approximately one week.
To cope with the aftermath, the family has also applied for support through the Ukraine state compensation programme, and while waiting for this assistance, they have received other humanitarian support from UNHCR.
Across frontline regions, UNHCR and its partners, with support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, continue to provide emergency shelter support, including rapid repair materials, helping families protect their homes and endure the harsh conditions. For people like Eduard and his family, this assistance offers a critical lifeline, allowing them to remain in their homes despite the ongoing risks.
