Alina is a psychologist and mother of three. She is from Kiev and has turned her children's passion for chess into a chess club. Photo: Olha Petrova/Oxfam
The war in Ukraine
4 år efter invasionen. Oxfam och våra partners är på plats.
Millions have fled Ukraine
4 år sedan Rysslands fullskaliga invasion av Ukraina är miljontals ukrainare fortfarande i behov av humanitärt stöd. Nästan 3,7 miljoner människor har behövt fly inom landet samtidigt som intensifierade attacker och förflyttning av frontlinjen har lett till fler evakueringar. Oxfam har varit på plats sen februari 2022 och samarbetat tätt med lokala partners för att stärka lokalt civilsamhälle och säkerställa att stödet gör skillnad där det behövs mest.
Ukraina har upplevt den kallaste vintern på över ett årtionde och det, i kombination med attacker av infrastruktur, innebär att miljoner ukrainare lever utan tillgång till värme, elektricitet och ibland till och med vatten och kommunikationsmöjligheter. Även i de allra svåraste omständigheter är lokala humanitära aktörer, inklusive Oxfams partnerorganisationer, en central kraft i landets humanitära respons.
Deras arbete har inte bara bidragit till konkreta insatser, utan också format hur det humanitära gensvaret fungerar i praktiken. Samarbetet med våra lokala partners är avgörande för att insatserna ska vara effektiva och verkligen göra skillnad. Deras lokala kunskap och expertis är en förutsättning för att vi ska kunna stötta människor och samhällen på bästa sätt.
Oxfams gensvar på konflikten i Ukraina rör sig in i en ny fas, vilket innebär att Oxfam går mot en planerad och principiell utfasning av vårt arbete i Ukraina. Vårt fokus går från att vara direkt inblandade till att stå tillsammans med ukrainska organisationer, där våra partners fortsätter leda arbetet framåt.
Want to know more about how Oxfam works in Ukraine?
Read our 2.5 year report on our work in Ukraine
2.5 years in UkraineRead our 2-year report on our work in Ukraine and the region
2 years in Ukraine"I want to breathe out again - I want the whole country to breathe out and rest. I want everyone to be able to return home."
Anna Kulyeva, founder of the "Anika" Foundation
Oxfam's work in Ukraine
The importance of local expertise
As always, Oxfam works on the principle of empowering and supporting local humanitarian leaders for aid to be effective. We work with a feminist approach where we try to look at the big picture, to ensure that aid reaches marginalized groups. Our work in Ukraine is further evidence that humanitarian action is most effective when it is driven by local needs and in partnership with local organizations. It is thanks to the close cooperation with local organizations that the aid has been able to reach out as quickly and effectively as possible.
Anna Kulyeva, founder of the "Anika" foundation, shows photos on her mobile phone. Photo: Olha Petrova/Oxfam
Alina's story:
Alina Smyrnova is a mother of three and a psychologist. She watched her children develop a passion for chess and when she couldn't find a chess club nearby, she took matters into her own hands and started her own. In addition to the chess club, people can practice Pilates and receive psychological support. In this way, she has created a community for people to grow and both receive and give support.
Alina gives children from large families the chance to participate for free and hopes to engage more teenagers in the future to give them the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities. Oxfam and partner WCU have supported Alina in developing a business plan and provided grants to purchase furniture, equipment and items to ensure the business can continue during power cuts.
Alina is a psychologist and mother of three. She is from Kiev and has turned her children's passion for chess into a chess club. Photo: Olha Petrova/Oxfam
Working with already vulnerable groups
Oxfam's work is always based on local needs, in Ukraine we are working with seven partner organizations that work with marginalized groups in Ukraine. This includes Roma, women, LGBTI+ people, people living near the frontline and those living in rural areas with limited access to humanitarian support. A strong civil society in Ukraine means that the people who need support continue to get it, now and in the future.
The Anika Foundation visits Hanna's house, where new windows were installed to replace those damaged during attacks. Photo: Olha Petrova/Oxfam
Oxfam is on the ground in several other emergencies
In parallel to the response to people fleeing Ukraine, we are working on the ground in several other emergencies around the world.
The simplest, and most cost-effective, way to support people affected by war, conflict and disaster is to become a monthly donor. It allows us to work for long-term change, against injustice and oppression - while responding to emergency situations where the need is greatest right now.
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Questions and answers
The path towards a truly sustainable and just peace must obviously include Ukrainians, especially Ukrainian women and civil society. Russia's invasion violated international law and this aggression must not be rewarded. Legitimizing an act of aggression risks setting a standard that could threaten the entire international rules-based order designed to prevent wars before they break out. Whether or not Ukraine and Russia agree to negotiate a peace plan, civilians must be protected, in line with their commitments under international humanitarian and human rights law.
