Almost a third of the population of Kharkiv had to flee the city because of the bombing. Now that it is over, humanitarian needs are increasing
In Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, the distribution of essential goods organised by INTERSOS involved food and hygiene products for displaced persons from the conflict areas who have been received in first aid centres or have returned to the city after the improvement of security conditions. Hygiene kits containing shampoo, soap, tissues and food, including potatoes, sauce, pasta, vegetables, and meat, were delivered to 500 families. As our head of mission, Aleksandra K. Wisniewska, points out, “Almost one-third of the population of Kharkiv had to leave the city due to heavy bombing. Now that Kharkiv is no longer in an active combat area, humanitarian needs are not reduced. On the contrary, new ones arise. In particular, for the hundreds of thousands of people who are returning but need primary assistance and access to necessities. This is why our commitment is to continue supporting the population in Kharkiv and the surrounding areas”.
There are now over 7 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine, according to IOM estimates, in addition to 4.8 million refugees abroad (UNHCR data). Among the displaced families, the number of vulnerable people is particularly high: 26% of the families include children under 5 years old, 8% pregnant or breastfeeding women, 26% disabled, 31% people with chronic diseases.
Distribution of essential goods for the displaced population
In May, INTERSOS activities focused on the distribution of essential goods to the displaced population in various locations in central-eastern Ukraine. In particular, our staff reached the transit centre in the city of Krivi Rih, 30 km from the front line, distributing hygiene kits and 800 blankets to support displaced families. We are in an area close to the front line, where thousands of people fleeing the conflict find refuge and receive initial assistance every day. As in many other areas of the country, the first wave of displaced people was followed by a second wave, in which more vulnerable people arrived, including elderly people with disabilities and limited financial support, who are in great need of urgent material support.
In the Vinnycja region (oblast), several villages, including Ulaniv and Khmilnyk, set up shelters to provide shelter for 682 displaced persons. Eight hygiene kits, each containing a minimum number of basic personal hygiene items, were donated to these facilities. Our staff are currently assessing what further needs need to be addressed in the reception centres. Both of these cities are improving their sanitary conditions, thanks to the provision of medicines and medical supplies to which INTERSOS has also contributed. In Poltava, in the first week of June, INTERSOS delivered 13 hygiene kits to 13 reception centres to help improve the health conditions of the population.
Amongst other interventions, our staff identified the need to provide water both in Odesa, in areas far from the city centre, and in Mykolaiv, where the water supply system has been interrupted since April 12. Here, 3,840 containers of water totalling 13.5 tonnes were delivered; this distribution also affected the hospital in Mykolaiv in the last week of April, to ensure the care and support of the patients admitted there.