In three years, the war in Ukraine has caused over 40,000 casualties and displaced more than 10 million people: 12 million people still require humanitarian assistance to survive. They cannot be forgotten.
A three-metre-high metal sunflower emerged on the morning of Friday, 21 February, in the heart of Milan, standing on a ground of rubble. “UNFORGOTTEN UKRAINE – A symbol of hope, a reminder of loss” is a work by the artist Mauro Seresini. The sunflower, a symbol of Ukraine and an emblem of hope and resilience, takes centre stage in a powerful representation to bring back focus on a conflict that, three years after it began, continues to claim victims and devastate the civilian population. “UNFORGOTTEN UKRAINE” represents a message of hope and a warning: while international attention seems to be waning, European institutions and local authorities want to remind the world that Ukraine continues to fight to defend its freedom and territorial integrity. The sunflower helps us not to forget the suffering of millions of people and that the European Union will stand by the Ukrainian people for as long as necessary.
The initiative, promoted by the Representation of the European Commission for Northern Italy and the Office of the European Parliament in Milan, together with CESVI, Factanza Media, and Mirror, aims to maintain high awareness of the importance of supporting Ukraine in facing the humanitarian emergency: Russia’s aggression on 24 February 2022 has caused over 40,000 civilian casualties (including dead and injured) and nearly 4.3 million refugees. It is a call for international solidarity as the only way to build a future of peace and stability.
Three years after the outbreak of the conflict, one in three people in Ukraine (12.7 million) urgently needs humanitarian aid: 1 million children, over 3.3 million women, and 6 million elderly and disabled people rely on assistance to survive. In the first year of war alone, 2 million homes were destroyed, and even civilian structures such as hospitals and schools were not spared from attacks: 2,000 schools were damaged, and nearly 400 educational institutions were completely destroyed, depriving an entire generation of Ukrainian children of their right to education. Civilian infrastructure has been devastated, with severe consequences for access to essential services such as water, gas, and heating, especially in areas along the frontline and in regions bordering Russia. Over 6.8 million people have fled the country, while approximately 3.6 million remain internally displaced.
The psychological impact of the conflict is equally devastating, with millions struggling with post-traumatic stress disorders, particularly among children, about 1.5 million of whom are at risk of psychological distress due to their experience of war.
CESVI’s Response to the Emergency
Since the very early stages of the war in Ukraine, CESVI has been actively supporting displaced populations. Initially, this was through reception and protection interventions in neighbouring countries (Hungary, Romania, Poland), setting up tents to provide shelter and refuge, while simultaneously distributing essential goods (blankets, mattresses, food, infant formula) within Ukraine, particularly in the Kyiv region. In April 2022, CESVI became the first Italian humanitarian organisation to access Bucha after the Russian devastation. Here, it contributed to rebuilding educational infrastructure, including the “Arcobaleno” kindergarten, which now accommodates 700 children, and supported the construction of bomb shelters in three schools and kindergartens, ensuring safety for over 260 children. During winter 2023, CESVI set up 39 safe and heated facilities, providing shelter and comfort to thousands of people. A “Psychological Support Centre” was also established in the city. In the Kyiv region, CESVI supplied furnishings and equipment to the Regional Mental Health Centre in Vorzel.
Currently, CESVI operates in the Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts, implementing a project – together with Mines Advisory Group and Frontline Medics and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation – to support the population with psychosocial, economic, and material assistance, including basic healthcare services.
Healthcare Assistance
CESVI focuses on ensuring access to basic healthcare services in the rural communities of Lyman and Izyum. Here, it provides medicines and essential equipment to two mobile medical teams and a stabilisation centre in Lyman. Specialised medical equipment is supplied for screening and diagnosis, with particular attention to cardiovascular diseases. Mobile teams, consisting of doctors and nurses, operate in critical areas, ensuring medical care and medication availability. CESVI has also equipped these teams with ambulances for emergencies and patient transfers. The Lyman stabilisation centre, damaged by the conflict, has received support with trauma care specialists.
Mine Risk Awareness
CESVI operates in the districts of Lyman and Izyum (Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts) to reduce the risk of accidents caused by mines and unexploded ordnance, conducting awareness-raising sessions for local communities, with particular focus on displaced persons, returnees, and healthcare personnel. These interactive sessions use educational tools and updated materials to reflect emerging threats. The goal is to change risky behaviours through detailed information on dangers and safe practices.
Psychosocial Support
CESVI provides psychosocial support by training over 180 mental health professionals, offering a clinical supervision programme. Mobile teams of psychologists have been deployed to support more than 10,000 people suffering from war-related trauma. Emotional and technical support is also provided to frontline healthcare workers, with self-care sessions to help them cope with the challenges of their work.
