Voices from Ukraine’s Silent Crisis: Ukrainians Left Behind as U.S. Funding Stalls

Three years into the intensified conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the country remains under constant attack, with civilian casualties steadily increasing. Humanity & Inclusion (HI), which has been active in Ukraine since February 2022, continues to provide unwavering support to those impacted by the war. Since 2022, HI has supported 208,139 people.

The conflict in Ukraine has forced 3.5 million people to flee inside the country and has resulted in nearly 40,000 civilian casualties, including over 12,000 deaths and 27,000 injuries. Ongoing violence, particularly in the eastern and southern regions, continues to isolate entire communities, leaving them without access to essentials like water, food, and healthcare. Widespread destruction has forced millions to flee, while many remain in damaged homes, exposed to attacks and severe winter weather. Victims include people of all ages, often injured or killed near their homes. Many suffer life-altering physical and psychological trauma. Humanity & Inclusion (HI) condemns the repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure and urges all parties to prioritize the protection of non-combatants.

The War Hasn’t Ended for Us: Three Women’s Stories of Survival and Struggle in Ukraine

Inna, a 60-year-old woman from the Dnipropetrovsk region, lives in harsh conditions. Due to a chronic illness, she has almost no mobility and urgently needs hygiene products, fuel briquettes, and support to cover her overdue utility bills.  She also needs a special bed or mattress to feel comfortable when sleeping and getting out of bed. She needs to insulate her windows in her house, as it gets pretty cold in winter and early spring. Unfortunately, she was unable to receive the financial assistance on time.

“I have problems with my legs, my knee hurts. My sofa is too low, so it’s hard for me to sit down and stand up. I need a mattress or something on top of the sofa to make the bed higher, a better walking stick, and an armrest,” Inna says. “My house is also in poor condition—everything is falling apart. It would be very helpful to receive financial assistance—many people here need it nowadays.”

Yulia, a 32-year-old woman, was diagnosed with cancer and bone metastases. She lives in Turgenevka with her mother and two children aged eight and five, whom she raises independently. She currently has no personal income. The only working person in the family is Yulia's mother. Thus, she is the only source of income in the family.

Her most urgent needs include financial support to cover transportation costs to go to chemotherapy sessions, a wheelchair, and adult diapers. Humanity & Inclusion (HI) has provided her with a wheelchair and a bedside commode chair to support her daily needs.

“I have oncology, cancer. I can’t walk. HI, already brought me a wheelchair… It’s challenging for me to get to the hospital. I live in the Dnipropetrovsk region, but I need to travel 36 miles for my chemotherapy. I need money to get there by car,” Yulia explains. “How did I react to the suspension of U.S. aid? Many people are in need of support due to this war. My medication costs $95, and I need it every 21 days. My mother is the only one working; she is our only financial resource.”

Arshaluis, another 34-year-old lady, is from Kramatorsk. She and her daughter were displaced to Dnipro City due to the war. On July 9, 2024, while walking with her grandmother on a playground in Kramatorsk, her daughter was injured during a shelling attack. Rocket fragments pierced her right thigh, resulting in a serious injury that left her unable to walk for three months.

Her daughter is a physical victim of the conflict and currently requires financial assistance to cover transportation and accommodation costs in Kyiv for continued treatment and rehabilitation.

“In general, we are facing serious financial problems now. My daughter and grandmother were injured during a shelling, so we need funds for treatment and rehabilitation,” Arshaluis clarified. “We just registered for assistance from HI, and our support was frozen,” Arshaluis clarified. “I didn’t know about the freeze until one of the HI staff members told me. Of course, I have a negative attitude toward this. I need to take the child for rehabilitation and the grandmother for surgery. The war hasn’t ended yet!”