Poverty is a social sickness that we can’t seem to cure. Even Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you” (Matthew 26:11, NIV). We wonder, if the poor will always be with us, what’s the point in addressing poverty at all?

Poverty is both as ancient as pharaohs and as modern as smartphones. No matter any shift in politics, economics, or philosophy, poverty remains. Its very persistence can lull us into complacency. We can easily choose inaction from a deep sense of helplessness.

But if we could do something to address the issue of injustice in the world, would we? And why would we?

Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, once said, “Don’t fail to do something just because you can’t do everything.” Many followers of Jesus have dedicated their lives to eradicating poverty. But for many of us, it can often be a little too easy to stay comfortable in our church communities — praying for the world’s needs but failing to follow prayer with action.

We may feel confident in our understanding of the gospel of Christ. We believe Jesus was born, lived, died, and was resurrected to reconcile us to God and bring us new life. While these truths are central to our faith, when we look to the teachings of Jesus, we may encounter a question: Does our response to poverty point to a missing component in our understanding of the gospel?

Rich Stearns, World Vision president emeritus, addresses this piercing question in his book, The Hole in Our Gospel. His premise is that if we claim to follow Jesus — the One who fed the hungry, healed the broken, and called the poor “blessed” — but ignore the suffering of His people, then we’re preaching an incomplete gospel.

But let us address the elephant in the room. There is no need to pack your bags for a guilt trip. Nor is there a reason to beat ourselves up. Rather, this is a call to arms — compassionate, Jesus-filled arms — that are ready to do the gritty, holy work of justice. It’s about waking up as the Church and doing good, hard, and healing work. Because poverty is not just a social issue — it’s a gospel issue.

The Church has the power to respond to extreme poverty. Even more, how our congregations respond to the call of the gospel can rewrite the course of history.

How does poverty happen?

People often misunderstand poverty. In his book, Stearns writes, “Each of us brings different associations to the word poverty based on our past understandings and misunderstandings.” It’s tempting to reduce poverty to a simple economic issue — a lack of money, food, housing, or access to clean water. And while these are real and urgent needs, they only scratch the surface. Poverty is not just about empty wallets or bare cupboards. It’s about something deeper: a rupture in how things were meant to be. Poverty is the hum of brokenness under the noise of the world.

Many people mistakenly assign fault as well, beyond confusing what poverty is. Some believe poverty is caused by laziness, irresponsibility, or a failure to work hard enough. Others believe it’s solved with a job, a budget, or a new policy. These assumptions are clean, simple — and erroneous. They ignore the complexities of trauma, war, injustice, displacement, generational loss, and spiritual trauma or confusion. They miss the fact that a person can work three jobs and still not afford to live. They treat poverty like a math equation, assuming it has a simple, one-step solution. But Stearns tells us:

“Poverty is extremely complex. Picture the poor caught in a spiderweb of interwoven causes that trap them hopelessly while the marauding spiders of hunger, war, disease, ignorance, injustice, natural disasters, and exploitation prey upon them unrestrained.”

What about extreme poverty?

Extreme poverty is the most severe form of poverty, involving the acute deprivation of basic human needs. The technical definition of extreme poverty is living on less than $3.00 per person per day. According to the latest data, about 8.5% of people globally are estimated to be living in extreme poverty. That’s nearly 700 million people.

How does the Church view poverty?

Poverty reflects the world’s brokenness. From a Christian perspective, it can be seen as an extended consequence of sin — reflecting broken relationships between humans and God, humans and one another, and humans and creation. When Adam and Eve turned from God, their relationships with Him, with one another, with the land, and even with themselves were torn. Poverty is the lingering aftershock of that tearing. It shows up in hunger and homelessness, yes — but also in loneliness, powerlessness, and hopelessness. It is not just the absence of material things; it is the absence of shalom — God’s wholeness, His peace, His intended design.

The good news is that God did not stay distant from this pain. Jesus entered it. He was born into poverty. Instead of being wrapped in royal silk, Christ was clothed in rags and lay on straw. He walked among the outcast, the beggar, the widow, the orphan. He told stories where the poor were heroes and the last were first. And He declared that in His kingdom, the poor in spirit — those who know their need — are blessed. Not pitied. Not blamed. But blessed.

The Church is called to see poverty through this lens. Not as something “other people” experience, but as something we are all touched by in one form or another. Material wealth does not mean spiritual wholeness. A person can be surrounded by abundance and still live in spiritual poverty. Conversely, a person in rags may possess a faith that could move mountains.

Defining poverty

So, what is poverty? Among the many complexities contributing to it, it is a crack in the foundation of creation. It is a distortion of God’s image, a symptom of the fall. Enter Jesus, who came not only to forgive sins but to also restore what was lost. To bind up the brokenhearted. To bring good news to the poor. To lift the lowly and invite them to the banquet in the kingdom of God, where there is more than enough for everyone.

To address poverty, then, one is not merely called to give, but to enter into relationship. To recognize Christ in the face of the hungry, the unhoused, the overlooked. To listen before we speak, to serve without superiority, to give without expecting return. It is to partner with God in the holy, hard, beautiful work of restoration.

Global hunger crisis

The global hunger crisis isn’t just a logistics problem; it’s a moral emergency. The Church, with its vast reach and even deeper calling, holds a powerful key to closing the door on extreme poverty. As St. Thomas Aquinas put it, “He who is dying of hunger must be fed rather than taught.” Before we offer sermons, we must offer sustenance. People don’t have mental space for spiritual conversations or practices when they’re in survival mode. A woman may not have time to go to church if she’s walking 6 kilometers each day to provide water for her family. A child may not feel comfortable going to Sunday school if they’re dirty from lacking clean water in which to bathe. But when we can meet physical needs — through food distributions, agricultural training, or other forms of support — we show Christ’s love and create space for spiritual needs to be met as well.

What does Scripture say about poverty?

The Bible talks about poverty and caring for the poor a lot. In fact, Scripture mentions the subject more than 2,000 times. From the thundering prophets of the Old Testament to the quiet wisdom of the book of James, God makes one thing painfully clear: We can’t claim to know Him if we ignore the people He is forever pursuing.

Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” James 1:27 keeps it uncomfortably simple: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”

We cannot forget Deuteronomy 15:11: “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” God is not simply giving us a heads-up that poverty exists; He’s giving us a path forward, calling us to open our hands, our hearts, our homes.

Jesus, too, had many words on the matter. He fed the hungry, touched the untouchables, and made room at His table for the folks nobody else wanted to invite. In Luke 4:18, Jesus gives His personal mission statement: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

Notice that Jesus said good news. Not “okay news.” Not “news you can ignore.” Good news! And if our gospel isn’t good news for the poor, then maybe it’s not the gospel at all.

Stearns says, “Being a Christian, or follower of Jesus, requires much more than just having a conversion experience or affirming a statement of belief.” In other words, faith without action is incomplete. It’s faith that’s missing the point. If our gospel has a hole where justice, compassion, and action should be, then it’s time to get out the needle and thread and start patching up the missing pieces.

Further in The Hole in Our Gospel, Stearns says: “It is crystal clear from Scripture that God loves the poor while hating their poverty, the man-made actions that contribute to it, and the apathy of the ‘well-off’ who allow it to persist.”

Church solutions to end extreme poverty

An anonymous writer once crafted an imaginary conversation with a friend. “Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it,” he imagined saying to a friend. The friend responded, “Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

An honest look will reveal the Church has sometimes been like that one friend who says, “Let me know how I can help!” — and then disappears faster than snickerdoodles at the school bake sale. According to a 2001 study, Christians make up 33% of the world’s population, receive 53% of the world’s annual income, and spend 98% of their wealth on themselves. Only .01% of all Christian giving is directed toward mission efforts. While this study is over 20 years old, its findings are just as striking to us today.

If generosity is an indicator of our involvement, then this data suggests that the Church is taking a back seat in kingdom work. But when the Church does show up, the results are nothing short of miraculous.

For more than 75 years, World Vision has been witnessing this firsthand. Today, local churches around the globe have become centers of transformation through faith-driven partnerships. Not because they have big budgets, significant donations, or flashy programs, but because they understand that loving their neighbors means taking action, and doing more than offering thoughts and prayers.

Churches are uniquely positioned to help end extreme poverty because they are embedded in communities all over the world. The local body of Christ is rooted, trusted, and consistent. That kind of presence can’t be bought or manufactured. It’s cultivated through years of weddings, births, baptisms, graduations, funerals, prayer meetings, potlucks, neighborhood walks, and of course weekly Sunday gatherings.

In many parts of the world, the local church is the most stable and reliable institution around. Schools may close. Clinics may run out of medicine. Governments may overlook the needy. But the church doors stay open. That consistency makes churches powerful partners in long-term efforts to alleviate poverty.

World Vision’s model leans into this strength. We listen. We learn. And we walk alongside churches already doing the work, helping equip them with training, tools, and support to amplify their impact.

From tiny villages in Malawi to megachurches in California, congregations are taking on the giants of hunger, disease, lack of education, and hopelessness. Not because they have the answers, but because they are asking the question from those wristbands of another era: What would Jesus do?

Let’s not forget that spiritual poverty often walks hand-in-hand with physical need. Churches don’t just deliver aid — they help foster hope. They carry the message that each person is made in the image of God, loved beyond measure, and not forgotten.

Stearns wrote, “If your personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then your faith has a hole in it.” But the good news is that the Church can be the holy patch that mends that tear. And the better news? The more we patch, the more we resemble Christ.

This is kingdom work, no doubt about it. It’s justice with hands and feet. It’s the Church waking up, standing tall, and proclaiming to a weary world: You are not alone. We see you. And we’re coming alongside with the reminder that Jesus is here.

 

The power of Church generosity

Local and global giving is essential in the effort to end extreme poverty. Churches can designate funds to support global partners, adopt struggling communities, or respond to emergencies and support long-term needs through trusted organizations like World Vision. But generosity doesn’t stop with collection baskets. It means organizing food drives, supporting local shelters, and remembering that “love thy neighbor” includes both the family next door and the child in another nation. Stearns wrote in The Hole in Our Gospel,

“This gospel—the whole gospel—means much more than the personal salvation of individuals. It means a social revolution.”

To revolutionize a broken world, we have to take Sunday morning sermons into the streets. We have to take the love we preach and put it on the road — into villages, towns, deserts, and urban centers. We must offer hope in every place where hope is gasping for breath.

Ending extreme poverty is possible.

When faced with such a persistent problem, it’s easy to feel powerless. But we must remember: it is possible to end extreme poverty — maybe even in our lifetime! Recent history provides the proof. The percentage of the world’s workers living in extreme poverty recently fell by half, from 14.3% in 2010 to 7.1% in 2019. Humanitarian organizations were even working toward the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened. In 2020, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty rose for the first time in two decades.

Rather than being disheartened, we can find motivation.

In just five years, together with partners and donors, World Vision has impacted the lives of over 200 million vulnerable children by tackling the root causes of poverty. This is compelling evidence that the mission is not only possible, but progress is happening right now.

Christian response to poverty

Extreme poverty isn’t just about money. It’s about powerlessness. It’s about being told you don’t matter. It’s about hearing “no” in every language — no food, no school, no doctor, no future.

But the Church knows a better Author. One who turns “no” into “yes” and “not yet” into “watch what I can do.”

The Church’s response to extreme poverty helps us all understand what it looks like to follow Jesus. It’s not reserved for missionaries in distant lands. It’s for every believer who’s ever uttered the prayer, “Lord, here am I. Send me.” And sometimes, the sending looks like writing a check. Sometimes it looks like sponsoring a child. And sometimes it looks like speaking up, advocating for needs to be met.

Jesus didn’t pass the poor on His way to somewhere more important. He stopped. He healed. He listened. He told stories that flipped the long-standing tables of power.

This is the model.

The Church’s response to extreme poverty must be steeped in both prayer and action. It must be as local as your own zip code and as global as God’s kingdom. It must challenge comfort and invite community. It may be inconvenient and unglamorous, but it’s always wildly beautiful.

Because here’s the thing about serving the poor: You’ll find Jesus there. In the tears. In the resilience. In the joy that makes no economic sense.

If you want to meet Christ, follow Him into the margins. If you want to be the Church, feed His sheep. Clothe His children. Defend His beloved. Not just in theory — but in sweat, in sacrifice, in solidarity.

Let’s fill the hole in our gospel. Let’s be a Church that doesn’t just believe, but becomes. Becomes the good news for those who’ve only known hard times.

Because when we respond to poverty with love, justice, and unshakable faith, we don’t just change the world, we reveal the kingdom of Jesus.

Specific ways to get involved

The work of alleviating poverty is both deeply spiritual and surprisingly practical. When churches commit to action, they ignite hope. And when that hope spreads, lives change. Here are some meaningful ways that churches can make a difference in the fight against poverty.

Emergency response

When disaster strikes, poverty digs in, and its roots in communities become that much deeper. But the church has the power to interrupt this cycle. By supporting emergency response programs, congregations extend Christ’s compassion in the most urgent moments, providing food, shelter, and safety that protect families from slipping further into hardship. When communities recover faster and stronger, children can return to school, parents can rebuild livelihoods, and hope rushes in where despair once threatened. In responding to crisis, the Church becomes a living answer to prayer — and a vital partner in breaking poverty’s grip on our world.

Partnering with a development organization like World Vision

World Vision offers congregations a variety of meaningful ways to come alongside children and families in need. One of the most personal and transformative ways is through child sponsorship. Through sponsorship church members are connected directly with a child, providing not just resources but relationships that transform lives — both there and here. But that’s only the beginning. Some churches choose to focus on hunger relief, others on education, clean water, or health initiatives. Still others prefer the broad impact of giving to the World Vision Fund, which strengthens every sector of the work and helps families lift themselves out of poverty for good. However a church chooses to partner, each gift becomes a living expression of faith — turning Sunday lessons into change in real communities, in real time.

Economic empowerment

Access to economic tools, training, and opportunities can have a huge impact on a family’s ability to provide for themselves not just today, but over time, through generations. Christians can support microfinance initiatives, vocational training programs, and savings groups that help families lift themselves out of poverty. Imagine believers helping a single mother in Rwanda start a bakery. Or enabling a farmer in Honduras to finally afford tools. This is more than what many would call charity. It’s a way of actually coming alongside people and working to equip them with the tools needed to write a different life story.

Advocacy

Advocacy may not sound as directly impactful as other solutions, but it is every bit as vital. Churches can raise their voices on behalf of those whose voices are being drowned out by injustice. That might mean hosting an advocacy Sunday, where members sign petitions or write to their elected officials about legislation that affects global poverty. It might mean educating the congregation on how policies affect access to food, healthcare, and education. When the Church speaks truth to power, it echoes the prophets of old — and makes a real difference today.

In fact, some of the greatest societal shifts in history have been sparked by a praying, persistent Church. Christians like William Wilberforce fueled the abolition of slavery, refusing to let injustice hide behind polite silence. The U.S. Civil Rights Movement moved to the rhythms of gospel hymns and sermons from pulpits that proclaimed freedom in Jesus and freedom on earth. More recently, World Vision’s work combating the HIV and AIDS crisis in Africa was driven by churches who said, “This is our issue, too.” When faith communities stood up — advocating for prevention, care, and compassion, change occurred.

Investing in education

Education has long been a cornerstone of the Church’s anti-poverty efforts. Christian schools have provided literacy and vocational skills to marginalized communities, opening pathways out of poverty. Today, Christian organizations continue to invest in schools, vocational training, and scholarships, recognizing education as a powerful tool for empowerment and self-sufficiency.

On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, made landfall on Florida’s west coast with winds reaching 120 mph. The storm brought widespread destruction across the region, including severe flooding, storm surges, tornadoes, and power outages, affecting millions of homes and businesses in Florida. Tragically, Milton has claimed at least 24 lives, adding to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which resulted in significant destruction across Florida and other Southeastern states and took the lives of at least 227 people.

Hurricane Milton: Facts FAQS, and how to help

• Fast facts: Hurricane Milton
• What is the latest update on Hurricane Milton?
• What is the difference between Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene?
• What is World Vision doing to help communities affected by Hurricane Milton?
• How can I help people affected by Hurricane Milton and other disasters in the U.S.?

Fast facts: Hurricane Milton

• Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on the evening of October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 hurricane.
• Initially a Category 5 hurricane, Milton was downgraded to Category 3 before roaring ashore.
• Residents in Florida faced threats from tornadoes, hail, and wind, leading to mass evacuations. Milton knocked out power to over 3 million homes and businesses.
• Milton, Florida’s third landfalling hurricane for the 2024 season, followed Helene and Debby — and was the first to hit the Tampa Bay region in over a century.

BACK TO QUESTIONS 

What is the latest update on Hurricane Milton?

As of February 2025, the recovery of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 storm, is ongoing.

While many areas have made significant progress, some of the hardest-hit communities face continued challenges like power restoration and debris removal.

BACK TO QUESTIONS 

What is the difference between Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene?

Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene were both significant and deadly storms, but they had some key differences:

• Hurricane Milton, which reached Category 5 strength but was downgraded to Category 3 before landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, caused widespread damage and mass evacuations in Florida on October 9, 2024.
• In contrast, Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida on September 26, 2024, causing significant damage and leading to the evacuation of over 5 million people along the East Coast. It brought catastrophic rain and flooding to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and beyond.

BACK TO QUESTIONS 

What is World Vision doing to help communities affected by Hurricane Milton?

Even before Milton developed in the Gulf of Mexico, we were on the ground, aiding survivors of Hurricane Helene in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. To respond to Hurricane Milton, we have delivered 92 tractor-trailers loaded with relief supplies, including baby products, cleaning kits, personal care items, water, food, and more, to our partner churches in Florida to support affected families, as of September 2025.

With the generosity of our donors and through our 20 church partnerships, we have already served 90,914 people in the impacted states of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas through our response to hurricanes Milton and Helene. Key distributions included:

• Food aid:
  • Over 83,800 pounds of food, including 4,366 Crisis Relief Boxes and 1,100 turkeys for holiday meals
  •  19,248 gallons of clean water

• Christmas support:
  • In December, World Vision supported eight holiday events, delivering over 20,000 toys, card games, stuffed animals, books, clothing, and other recreational items

• Rebuilding efforts: 
  • We’re supporting five long-term partnerships to help rebuild 150 homes with building materials, including lumber for framing, drywall and supplies, flooring, doors, bathroom fixtures (including sinks and toilets), kitchen appliances, shingles, and more.

BACK TO QUESTIONS 

How can I help people affected by Hurricane Milton and other disasters in the U.S.?

• Pray: Join us in praying for all those impacted by Hurricane Milton and disasters.
• Give: Your gift will help deliver urgent aid to children and families affected by this hurricane and other disasters in the U.S.

BACK TO QUESTIONS 

In September and October 2024, the Southeastern U.S. was struck by two powerful hurricanes, Helene and Milton, causing widespread destruction. The storms left communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and beyond struggling with the aftermath: destroyed homes, disrupted lives, and severely damaged or completely destroyed infrastructure.

In these critical moments, World Vision’s swift and steadfast response has made a significant difference. Partnering with 20 local churches, we distributed essential supplies like clean water, generators, diapers, personal care items, and more, ensuring that people in the hardest-hit areas readily accessed the basics they needed.

Rev. Louis M. Murphy, Sr., of Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Florida, shared his gratitude: “To be able to partner with World Vision, a worldwide organization that has that local touch as well, is incredible.”

Our commitment to supporting these communities extends beyond short-term relief to long-term recovery and rebuilding.

“World Vision’s mission is not only to be among the first to respond when disaster strikes, but also to stay long after the headlines fade,” World Vision’s National Director of U.S. Programs, Reed Slattery said. “That’s what we mean by being ‘first in, last out.’ Our commitment is to help families not just survive the immediate impacts of the storm but to thrive long-term by rebuilding their homes. We’re honored to be the Lord’s hands and feet during the most difficult times in the lives of storm survivors.”

Your immediate support and ongoing impact

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the partnership of churches, faith-based organizations, and community organizations, we’ve distributed 57 truckloads of aid, bringing relief to communities across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

As of September 2025, World Vision’s response has supported 90,914 people in the hardest-hit communities. Through 20 church partnerships, we delivered:

• Over 83,800 pounds of food, including 4,366 Crisis Relief Boxes and 1,100 turkeys for holiday meals
• 19,248 gallons of clean water
• More than 20,000 toys, books, items of clothing, and holiday gift items to families in need

Pastor Gwen Jones from St. John Baptist Church called World Vision’s response “an answer to prayer.”

A future of hope and restoration

We’re continuing to focus on post-storm clean-up and rebuilding as we move into the recovery phase. Our long-term commitments include supporting our partnerships to rebuild 150 homes with building materials such as lumber, drywall, appliances, and more. Long after other organizations have often left, we will continue to stand by these communities, dedicated to helping them rebuild and restore their lives with dignity and hope.

The intensification of the war in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, has deeply affected a generation of the country’s population: its children. Many have lost family members and loved ones, been injured, or faced drastic disruptions to their lives. Forced to leave their homes and communities, unable to attend school, and living in unsafe environments, children continue to experience challenges no one should have to face. Their needs are expected to become even more pressing with the continuation of harsh conditions, as over 2,400 children have been killed or injured since the escalation, averaging 16 child causalities per week.

Ukraine crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the war in Ukraine, and learn how to help children and their families.

• Fast facts: Ukraine crisis 
• What is the current situation in Ukraine?
• How many people are affected by the war in Ukraine?
• What are the widespread impacts of the crisis in Ukraine?
• How are children being impacted by the war in Ukraine?
• What’s World Vision doing to help people affected by the war in Ukraine?
• How many people has World Vision helped since the start of the war in Ukraine?
• How can I help people impacted by the crisis in Ukraine?

Fast facts: Ukraine crisis

• The conflict in Ukraine has displaced over 3.5 million people within the country and forced over 6.8 million to leave the country as of January 2025.
• The need for humanitarian assistance will remain substantial in 2025, with an estimated 12.7 million requiring humanitarian aid and protection, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
• The war has sparked economic shocks and disruption with global ramifications, impacting people in poverty and contributing to an escalating global hunger crisis.
• Children are among the most affected: As of early 2023, 5.3 million children were facing educational barriers, with 3.6 million impacted by school closures. And within months of the start of the conflict 1.5 million were at risk of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• In response to the war, World Vision has reached over 2.26 million people in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, and Georgia with lifesaving aid, shelter, child protection programs, and other essentials as of November 2024.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

What is the current situation in Ukraine?

The situation in Ukraine remains dire due to ongoing hostilities since February 2022, resulting in widespread displacement and increased humanitarian needs, especially during the winter months.

War-affected areas face severe food security challenges as continued air strikes and bombings have caused extensive damage. Millions of people are living in damaged buildings without basic necessities like electricity, water, or heat. Access to essential services such as food, healthcare, education, and protection remains a daily struggle for many.

“We heavily rely on humanitarian aid now. I’m displaced — again. I had to leave my home in Donetsk Oblast when life there became unbearable. For two years, we lived without light, water, or heating. We were not living — we were just surviving,” said Iryna, 64.

The ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine have left many without power, heating, and water as the country prepares for winter, with temperatures expected to drop below zero degrees.

“I came to Zaporizhzhia, which is now just 35 kilometers from the frontlines. It’s a city crowded with displaced families like mine, who’ve fled the fighting. I’m a pensioner, and my allowance isn’t enough to cover basic food costs, let alone anything else. This winter terrifies me. I’m scared of being left without heat again, of freezing, of not being able to cook or afford food and medicine. I don’t know how I’ll make it through.”

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How many people are affected by the war in Ukraine?

According to the United Nations (U.N.), 12.7 million people will need humanitarian aid and protection in 2025. In addition to the approximately 6.8 million refugees living outside Ukraine, millions more are still displaced within the besieged nation.

“When the entire building shakes from a rocket that has just destroyed several houses in your neighborhood, and you have no heat, no water, no gas  —  you’re sitting in the dark, sometimes with no contact with the outside world because there’s no connection — you pray once again just to survive the day, hoping to see your loved ones one more time,” said Svitlana, 61, from Marinka, Donetsk oblast.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

What are the widespread impacts of the crisis in Ukraine?

One of the bloodiest conflicts in Europe since World War II, this war has devastated the lives of Ukrainian children and families but has also caused economic disruptions that impact people living in poverty far beyond Eastern Europe. The crisis continues to pose a threat to regional stability and has significantly increased humanitarian needs, particularly during the winter months amid non-stop destruction.

U.N. agencies have observed a dramatic increase in global hunger, which was already on the rise, as conflict has complicated the delivery of crucial food exports from Ukraine.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How are children being impacted by the war in Ukraine?

The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on children, with over 2,400 killed or injured since the conflict escalated in February 2022, an average of 16 child casualties every week, according to UNICEF.

Millions of children are caught in relentless hostilities, displacement, and shortages of essential resources like water, electricity, and healthcare. In areas directly affected by armed violence, nearly 3 million people urgently need access to warmth, clean water, and medical care. At the same time, widespread attacks have damaged schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure, deepening the crisis.

Children continue to endure immense psychological trauma, often spending hours in basements during air raid sirens, while 1.7 million lack access to safe water, and 3.4 million are without proper sanitation, increasing their risk of disease.

“I woke up hearing the bombs dropped in our small village located near Borodyanka,” said Nina, who with her two sisters, endured shelling in northwest Kyiv, one of the first areas to be hit by airstrikes in late February 2022. Bombings forced the local school to shutter. The family, terrified of the fighting, stayed inside their home for one month. “It was a terrible time. During my visit with our next-door neighbors, we were all crying,” added Oksana, Nina’s sister.

World Vision’s programming through a local partner helped support children like Nina and her sisters with ongoing psychosocial care in Borodyanka.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

What’s World Vision doing to help people affected by the war in Ukraine?

Since the onset of the conflict, World Vision has consistently delivered lifesaving aid, shelter, child protection services, and other essentials to support the most vulnerable people. We are bringing our global expertise and local partnerships to respond to the war in Ukraine and throughout impacted regions.

Operating across every administrative region, known as oblasts, in Ukraine, World Vision collaborates with trusted local and international partners — including the WFP and UNICEF — to assist communities affected by the war. We’ve also implemented a cash assistance program managed by partners in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, and Georgia.

In response to the harsh winter, we launched a comprehensive five-month winterization program, running from November 2024 through March 2025. This includes:

• Cash assistance: Offering financial support to displaced communities affected by the conflict by helping them cover heating costs; purchase winter clothing, firewood, and coal; and pay utility bills.
• Essential supplies: In partnership with local organizations, we’re distributing generators, heaters, and power banks to families and shelters in frontline areas.
• Winterization kits: These kits, containing thermal blankets, hygiene items, portable gas stoves, and gas cylinders, help families endure the freezing temperatures.

Our efforts seek to provide immediate relief and enhance resilience for those most vulnerable to the challenges of winter.

Alongside immediate relief, we are also focused on long-term support through educational programs for children and adults, psychosocial and child protection services, livelihood support, and more, aiding communities build resilience and recover from crisis.

“This winterization kit is crucial for families living close to the frontlines. These communities are hanging by a thread — with shattered windows, half-destroyed buildings, and entire neighborhoods in ruins. On top of that, energy plants are being targeted, leaving families without gas, heating, or water. Power outages are constant, making it nearly impossible to stay warm, boil water, or prepare food,” said Yurii Bezkorovainyi, director of Will Help Together, World Vision’s partner in Ukraine responsible for distributing the kits in frontline areas.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How many people has World Vision helped since the start of the war in Ukraine?

We’ve been responding since the first week of the crisis. As of 2025, our staff have provided essentials for approximately 2.26 million people across the region. Here are some highlights:

• In Ukraine, our efforts have supported over 1,35 million people, nearly half of whom are children.
• In Romania, we’ve assisted more than 351,700 people with aid, including food, shelter, protection resources, and education and hygiene kits.
• In Moldova, over 510,320 people have been reached through our programming. We continue to support Moldovan families hosting refugees in 17 districts through our partnership with WFP.
• In Georgia, we’ve helped support over 39,600 people with education, child protection, and programming, including vouchers for food, hygiene, clothing, and pharmacy costs.

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How can I help people impacted by the crisis in Ukraine?

• Pray: Join us in praying for the most vulnerable communities affected by the war in Ukraine.
• Give: Become a vital partner in World Vision’s work to deliver help and hope to refugees and displaced children and families.

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