Fresh violence between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces this week has seen at least 15 people killed, dozens wounded in the rebel-held town of Avdiivka.
Caritas, the Catholic Church's aid organisation, is warning of "very harsh" winter conditions on Thursday, as the town remains without electricity and only partially restored water and heating.
Hryhoriy Seleshchuk, Head of Humanitarian Projects at Caritas Ukraine, said: People are very afraid here. Afraid when there is shelling and even more afraid when there is not – because they don't know what is happening, what will come next and how they will survive. "
Focused on the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the war between rebels and Ukrainian forces has seen more than 9,700 people lose their lives, since the conflict began in April 2014.
Some violence has continued despite a deal agreed nearly two years for a ceasefire and the pulling back of heavy weapons by both sides.
Hryhoriy Seleshchuk of Caritas Ukraine went on to say: "Many people are reluctant to leave their homes though. They says they feel safer in their basements than somewhere else as they know that as many as 19 people have been killed by the shelling of the past few days.
"Some also know people who relocated in previous fighting and lost their jobs. The situation is very tough. I spoke to one old lady who is very, very stressed because she fears no one will come to help her."