Development and Peace

Published purpose

November 2024 – 11.1 million people need protection-related support. These include 3.2 million children and 7.8 million people with health-related and shelter needs. The displacement and family separation increased the risk of gender-based violence (GBV), human trafficking and other conflict-related protection risks, such as torture. Also, the decline in mental health and unprocessed trauma reduced individuals’ ability to cope with daily life. This helps to increase protection risks, including GBV and child abuse, and caregivers’ capacity to provide care for children. With Global Affairs Canada’s support, Development and Peace helps address the urgent needs of 6,250 vulnerable women, men and children impacted by the ongoing conflict in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts. The project focuses on meeting the critical needs of women single-headed and older-single-headed households (SHHs) with children and older dependants (identified target group). Project activities include: (1) providing sensitization activities to all households to raise awareness of protection risks, including child protection and GBV, and available support; (2) providing immediate support, specialized case management, and referral pathways for high at-risk households, such GBV survivors and child protection cases; (3) providing winterization shelter non-food items; (4) providing safe specialized accommodation to at-risk women-headed households, including GBV survivors; (5) providing multipurpose cash assistance for 3 months to meet diverse household needs; and (6) providing specialized group or individual counselling to adults and children with an assessed mental health need.