Flee or freeze

Winters in Ukraine are amongst the harshest in Europe with biting winds and snow, and inhospitable temperatures often hitting -10 °F.

“Right now, across the country, people are facing a grim choice: flee or freeze,” says Jan Egeland. “This week, I met families in Zaporizhzhia who fled for their lives from bombed-out basements through the only crossing point on the frontline. They were shelled as they crossed. From a one-month-old to a 91-year-old, they arrived cold and traumatised, but deeply relieved that they are now safe.”

Egeland emphasised that this is “a brutal conflict targeting the most vulnerable. Many civilians, including those who are sick, disabled or elderly, cannot or will not leave their homes under bleak weather conditions. They must not be forgotten and must receive aid and assistance before it’s too late.”