“I was never a political person and had no interest in politics. My life revolved around my family and my children,” before the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, Olga was on maternity leave, taking care of her children and her elderly mother.

The beginning of the war was a total shock for her. She was caught by surprise and did not want to leave, so for the first ten days of the war, she decided not to flee, and to stay in her home with her parents and sister.

“One night, there was an explosion, followed by a blue flash. Plaster spilled in the kitchen, the glass on the veranda shattered, and my children woke up terrified.” Olga decided to leave her home to protect her mother and children. She was deeply worried about them.

“I felt devastated, confused, and desperate, with no idea about our future. During our first days away from home, the children and I often woke up in the middle of the night out of fear,” she commented. The major challenge for the family was finding a place to stay. Once in Lviv, JRS helped them find accommodation and provided them with food and hygiene supplies.

For two years now, Olga and her family have been living in a shelter, far from their home, “we feel safe here, and there is a good place for children’s leisure and development. Despite this, I sincerely hope that I will return home. I dream about it, but at the moment, I don’t see such an opportunity. I understand that I will go abroad only if there is no other way out. After all, I love my country and want to live here,” concluded Olga.

The protracted nature of the conflict in Ukraine has resulted in a profound humanitarian crisis, marked by extensive displacement and the continuous movement of people seeking safety and stability. As a result, the number of people supported by JRS increased to 110,000 in the first six months of 2024. JRS teams in Ukraine and neighbouring territories continued to provide humanitarian assistance and to offer activities aimed at creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for the displaced population, adapting to the evolving needs of the population displaced by two years of conflict.

Read more in the One Proposal Interim Report 2024.