Aid workers in Kharkiv described people from Mariupol arriving penniless, with just a single bag of belongings and no money. Many fled in a hurry, and often arrived exhausted and emotional after days of travelling. The city of Lviv, in the west of the country, which was left relatively unscathed in the first half of 2022, saw its usual population of around 700,000 double or even triple according to some media reports as people flooded in from the east. Like Kristina, many did not want to leave the country and initially hoped that the conflict would be temporary, so moved with the hope of returning soon. Kristina sits on her bed in a sports hall converted into a shelter for displaced people in Lviv in June 2022. All have left behind homes, jobs, businesses, possessions and loved ones and are in need humanitarian support. While it is estimated that as of November 2022 around 7.8 million people have fled Ukraine as refugees, at least 6.5 million have sought sanctuary within the country. The conflict has displaced roughly a third of Ukraine’s population as residents fled the missiles, airstrikes and fighting. Arriving in Lviv by train in March 2022, they were directed to the sports hall, one of more than 200 shelters being supported by HIA, a partner of Christian Aid, with DEC funds. Like millions of others rather than flee the country they had decided to stay in Ukraine as long as they could. Kristina, a nurse, and her family fled their home in Donetsk region when fighting intensified in March last year. We could no longer sit there and wait for a bomb to hit our house,” said Kristina,* wiping tears from her eyes as she sat on her bed in a sports hall converted into a shelter for displaced people in Lviv in June 2022.

“The bombing and missile strikes grew stronger each day.

Fled for Refuge by Kristina Hall