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Salvation Army sustains vital support for refugees into fourth year of war

Salvation Army sustains vital support for refugees into fourth year of war
Salvation Army sustains vital support for refugees into fourth year of war | Photo: ‪Salah Darwish

As the conflict in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the humanitarian emergency has shifted in character but not in urgency. Millions remain displaced, some within Ukraine’s borders and others scattered across Europe. What began as a scramble to provide safe passage, shelter and food has evolved into a struggle to rebuild lives under conditions of uncertainty. Among the most consistent actors in this response has been the Salvation Army, whose focus now lies on the long-term well-being of displaced communities.


From immediate relief to long-term resilience

In the early months of the war, assistance centred on emergency supplies: blankets, hot meals, hygiene kits and temporary shelter. Today, with fewer mass movements but greater entrenched needs, the emphasis has moved toward resilience. Refugees are not only confronting material hardship but also the psychological toll of separation, instability and trauma.


To address this, the Salvation Army has introduced psychosocial support programmes that create safe spaces for children and adults, offering both emotional care and opportunities for social interaction. Voucher schemes, already operating in countries such as Bulgaria, provide families with the means to cover food and clothing, restoring a measure of dignity and choice.


Integration activities, ranging from cooking classes to community sports, help reduce isolation while vocational training and education offer pathways toward economic independence. The recognition that displacement is not just a humanitarian crisis but also a long-term social and financial challenge has reshaped the organisation’s priorities.


Across Ukraine and Eastern Europe

The Salvation Army’s reach now extends along a broad geographical arc. Inside Ukraine, its centres provide havens where children learn and play while adults receive support for both practical and emotional needs. Beyond Ukraine’s borders, the organisation’s presence in Moldova, Romania, Poland, Georgia and beyond has grown steadily. In 2024, its work in Georgia was formally acknowledged with the Order of St Panteleimon, underlining the respect earned by its refugee-focused programmes.


A striking feature of this evolving response is the emergence of refugees themselves as volunteers. Many who first arrived in host countries with little more than a suitcase are now actively contributing to community work, distributing supplies, supporting peers and rebuilding their own sense of purpose.



The Salvation Army

 

The durability of such efforts is not guaranteed. According to recent European data, more than 4.5 million Ukrainians remain under temporary protection or asylum across the continent. Simultaneously, the estimated cost of rebuilding Ukraine already runs into hundreds of billions of dollars, straining international donors’ capacity to fund both immediate relief and reconstruction.


The Salvation Army, like other humanitarian organisations, faces funding shortages that risk undermining programmes aimed at education, vocational training and psychological recovery. These initiatives are essential not only for daily survival but also for the pursuit of the sustainable development goal most closely tied to reducing inequalities and promoting social cohesion.


Enduring solidarity required

The persistence of the war demands a persistence of response. Short bursts of generosity, however vital in the early days, cannot substitute for the steady, long-term investment that displaced people require. The Salvation Army’s model, shifting from crisis relief to community resilience, provides a template for how humanitarian organisations can adapt in protracted emergencies.


For those seeking further insights into the broader European refugee response, resources are available through the European Council on Refugees and Exiles and ReliefWeb.

 

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