Operation Winter Survival - freezing weather kills older people in Ukraine

We have an SOS on warm winter clothes as freezing weather has killed over 100 people in central and eastern Europe over the past few weeks.

Ukraine's health ministry said over 100 people died as a result of the severe weather in the early part of the February. Most of them were homeless who froze to death in the streets or old people who died in their flats or after hospitalisation.

The emergency situations ministry reported hundreds of people suffering from frostbite and hypothermia. Authorities opened 1,500 shelters to provide food and heat, as temperatures plunged to minus 35C (minus 31F) in some regions of the country. 

In Moldova, our support workers tell us "On home visits, we saw that clients were wearing multiple layers and sleeping together in one bed to keep as warm as possible, due to living in poorly insulated homes which have required urgent repairs for decades.

"Refrigerators were almost empty, with clients living on a simple diet of vegetable soup, potatoes and porridge, but others are going without. Many are unable to afford buying firewood or coal, whilst the weather has dropped to as low as minus 22C. Beneficiaries were found to be truly grateful and it’s obvious that they could not survive without this support." 

We urgently need your donations and warmest clothes particularly warm, heavy overcoats (including fur), ski wear and boots to send to communities to help provide urgent winter relief.

Watch this film to see why we need your support this winter now.