In Vinnytsia, Ukraine, families displaced by war struggle to rebuild their shattered lives. Maryna, a mother who fled from Kherson with her son, describes the emotional and physical toll of displacement. The programs supported by NGOs like Spring of Hope helped provide vital psychological support and healing through group activities and family events. However, with USAID shutting down, these critical services have vanished, leaving Maryna worried about her son retreating into isolation once again.
With President Trump’s announcement of eliminating nearly all remaining positions at USAID, over 90 percent of staff either on leave or terminated, and lawsuits piling up, programs that have helped prevent many Ukrainians from falling into despair are being suspended. In small towns near the frontlines, NGOs like Hope for Ukraine struggle to continue providing essential services, such as delivering firewood to residents facing daily bombings and drone strikes. The halt in USAID funding is taking its toll on these efforts, and volunteers like Yuriy Boyechko are finding it increasingly challenging to mobilize without the resources they once relied on.
In war-torn regions like Marhanets in the Dnipro oblast, where infrastructure is destroyed and bombings are a constant threat, small NGOs like Hope for Ukraine play a crucial role in delivering much-needed firewood to families trying to stay warm in the brutal winter months. The halt in USAID funding means that these volunteers are struggling to find alternative ways to continue their efforts. They face the possibility of their funds drying up and being unable to operate, leaving vulnerable communities without essential support.
The psychological wounds of war are significant, with many individuals like Oksana fleeing the occupied territories and feeling lost in unfamiliar cities. Programs like Spring of Hope and The United Help Ukraine offer critical support, including counseling, psychological assistance, and training sessions. However, with the freeze in USAID funding, these mental health programs are at risk of being severely limited. The consequences of these cuts extend beyond the immediate impact, as it will take decades and generations to fully recover from the psychological toll of the war.
The aid freeze also has a profound impact on facilities for adults with special needs in Ukraine, as well as essential services like underground schools in cities like Kharkiv. Without USAID support, these facilities would struggle to accommodate displaced individuals and keep children safe from air strikes. Despite recent court interventions to stabilize USAID, the agency still faces significant hurdles in ensuring a timely restart of vital programs aiding displaced Ukrainians. The immediate impact on Ukrainians is clear: aid delays and interruptions in critical support systems will only worsen their already fragile situation.
As Ukrainians continue to navigate the challenges of displacement and war, the loss of USAID funding has created a void in essential support services. Without access to mental health programs, humanitarian aid, and safety infrastructure, individuals and communities impacted by conflict are left vulnerable and facing an uncertain future. The efforts of small NGOs and volunteers have become increasingly strained as they struggle to fill the gaps left by the freeze in funding, highlighting the urgent need for continued international support to help Ukrainians rebuild their lives and communities.
