Emergency Winterisation Assistance for war-affected populations in Chernihiv Oblast, This project will focus on Chernihiv Oblast, which is a region the size of Belgium in Northern Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Chernihiv. Chernihiv Oblast has a total population of 976.000. It is bordered in the west by the Kiev Oblast, Sumy Oblast in the east, and Poltava Oblast in the south. The northern border is part of the international border with Belarus and Russia. 

Chernihiv comprises a very important historical region, notable as early as the Kievan Rus period around the 10th and 11th centuries when the cities of Chernihiv and Novhorod-Siverskyi were frequently mentioned. The numerous architectural monuments of the city bear witness to the invasions suffered, including those by the Mongols, Poles, Germans and Russians.

During the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chernihiv Oblast was one of the first regions where Russian and Ukrainian forces clashed. Heavy fighting occurred around the city of Chernihiv, which is the major route connecting West Russia and Belarus to the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, which is 105 km south of the border. The Russians completed a blockade around the city and essentially cut it off from the outside world. However, the Russians could not break the defenses and suffered heavy losses in material and morale. 
On 4 April 2022, the Governor of Chernihiv Oblast, Vyacheslav Chaus, stated that the Russian military had left Chernihiv Oblast but that they had planted mines in many areas before leaving. On the 4th and 5th of April 2022, units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine retook control of Chernihiv Oblast. 

The intense fighting resulted in widespread destruction of infrastructure, public buildings, and private properties, as well as large scale displacement of the affected population. Before the war, Chernihiv had 300.000 inhabitants but saw a reduction during the hostilities to approximately 90.000, consisting mainly of vulnerable people such as elderly and homebound people. As of June 2022, some 60.000 (28%) of the 210.000 people who had fled, returned home. It is estimated that out of the 46.000 children who fled, only 10% have returned so far. according the figures of the Chernihiv Oblast administration  

According to the Chernihiv Oblast government, it is not yet known how many people have damaged houses, but an estimated 3.500 people lost their homes completely, and a much larger number suffered light to medium damage to their properties. 

Currently, the situation in Chernihiv is calm with only sporadic attacks on targeted facilities. However, with the ongoing hostilities in the east and the close proximity to the Russian border, this could change in the future. However, shelter support for the population in Chernihiv is needed as the winters in this area are cold, bitter, and harsh, with temperatures occasionally dropping to below -20°C . December and January are generally the coldest months of the year


The proposed project will respond to support the  rural population with focus on people with specific vulnerabilities 

The proposed shelter  intervention aims to cover gaps in the winterization efforts already started by humanitarian actors to prepare the houses of the vulnerable population for the winter by performing small repairs on roofs, windows, doors and heating appliances  Cross-cutting themes will be mainstreamed in the project including Covid-19 mitigation, gender equality, conflict sensitivity, inclusion as well as Duty of Care and Safeguarding. Do-no-harm principles will be prioritized throughout all activities.
Persons living with Disabilities and other vulnerable groups will be prioritized throughout all activities.. ZOA  and Dorcas adheres to the Core Humanitarian Standard and ZOA s the first Dutch based organization to be awarded CHS certification 

 Having informed the Ukrainian  Humanitarian Fund Modality,  Dorcas  is the contract holder  for this project but ZOA will implement the activities .