Since the outbreak of war in late February this year, ADRA has been supporting the people from Ukraine – in Ukraine, neighbouring countries and broader, including Germany. To provide displaced persons with comprehensive protection and support, ADRA Germany is part of the ADRA Network’s response.

“The Russian invasion has been causing suffering and hardship for half a year. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the tens of millions of people who lost their homes in the war. We hope with all our hearts that the Ukrainians will be able to lead a peaceful and self-determined life again as soon as possible,” says Christian Molke, director of ADRA Germany.

From day one of the war, the international ADRA network pooled its forces to provide helpers and necessary relief supplies such as food, medicine and everyday necessities very quickly.

Regardless of the personal risk, ADRA workers in Ukraine are distributing essential supplies, arranging shelter, repairing apartments and houses, providing social transport for the elderly and sick, and evacuating people from conflict zones to western Ukraine and the Ukrainian border. ADRA also offers psychosocial support and cash assistance. 

ADRA is also active for refugees in Germany. “We set up a reception centre in Kirchhundem (district of Olpe) in a very short time, in which 120 refugees could be admitted. Around 1,000 other displaced persons were provided with private accommodation. ADRA offers a 24-hour hotline for refugees to provide initial assistance and psychosocial support. A hotline and special training courses were also offered to volunteers. None of this would be possible without the many volunteers, donors and partners. We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts,” Molke continued.

According to the World Refugee Agency, two-thirds of the Ukrainian population is on the run. The people who fled Ukraine could only take the bare essentials with them. Among other things, they lack warm clothing. People in Ukraine are concerned about the winter with lows of minus 20 degrees. ADRA helps repair damaged homes and converts 70 vacant buildings into winterised shelters. In addition, people are offered rent subsidies which will allow them to stay in warm accommodation. If this is not possible, ADRA offers evacuations to self-operated shelters in neighbouring countries.