Switzerland makes Ukraine winterproof

Ukraine is trembling for the winter. The weather is still autumn-like like here, but by December at the latest, temperatures will drop significantly. For example, the maximum values ​​in Kharkov in January are minus five degrees Celsius and it is equally cold in Dnipro and Donetsk.

A problem for the millions of people whose homes have been destroyed by the war. A Swiss entrepreneur – financed by donations – has therefore started to build simple wooden houses that at least offer the war victims a roof over their heads.

New windows, new roofs

Official Switzerland also helps to make Ukraine winter-proof. According to Federal President Ignazio Cassis (61), who was at war in a country last week, thousands of tons of equipment, including power generators, are already on the way.

In particular, the Directorate for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supports projects in the districts of Kremenchuk, Chernihiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil that restore destroyed houses. Windows are placed, roofs and walls are insulated, heating and plumbing and electrical installations are repaired. In addition, a biomass heating system will be installed in five hospitals.

In addition, ten employees of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) are currently deployed in Ukraine and Moldova: five experts support the Swiss representations in Kiev and Chisinau, five others support projects of the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross in their programs .

“We use everything we have in the registry”

According to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), 120,000 people can be helped to get through the winter better. And that’s not all: The FDFA is currently investigating further investigations of similar projects. All this also has the aim of preventing a new influx of refugees in the coming months.

Switzerland has so far spent CHF 2.8 million on emergency aid. “We’ll use all the money we have in the register,” Cassis told Blick a week ago. “But that won’t be enough.”