The initiative to distribute essential family hygiene kits to individuals impacted by the flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam is now underway.
Among those who have received these vital hygiene supplies is Tetiana, a pensioner. Her situation is particularly dire, as she survives on a minimal pension while grappling with the dual burdens of home repairs due to shelling damage and her battle with cancer. Throughout the entirety of the full-scale war, Tetiana has remained in Kherson, leaving only once for medical treatment. Her recollections of the occupation are tinged with sadness.
“In those difficult times, purchasing even basic necessities like food was a challenge, as the invaders imposed the use of rubles in stores. What got us through was the kindness and mutual support of people around us. My brother suffered a brutal assault at the hands of the Russians, and he didn’t live long after that,” Tetiana recounts. “Nowadays, our street endures constant blackouts and frequent shelling. We’ve had windows and doors blown out and fences and roofs damaged. Even the dogs are terrified, refusing to stay in their kennels, always seeking shelter inside the house.”
Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, Tetiana opened her home to an elderly couple who had completely lost their home to the flood. They now reside in her late brother’s room. Her current concern is to gather enough funds for a bioprosthesis for her son, wounded near Bakhmut, who is determined to return to defending the country once he recovers. She clings to the hope of victory: “Our daily dream is of victory, a time when we can reunite, for my son and his family to return, for all of us to be together again.”
This assistance is part of the Lifesaving and Gender-Sensitive Shelter and Protection Assistance for Conflict-Affected Populations in Dnipropetrovska Oblast in Eastern Ukraine As Well As Rapid Emergency Support to Affected Population in Khersonska Oblast in Southern Ukraine (Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam), implemented by the CO CF SSS in collaboration with international humanitarian organization CARE, with funding by the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foundation has already distributed thermal underwear and various non-food item kits as part of this project. Additionally, we are in the process of preparing bedding kits for the residents of Kherson, aiming to provide further comfort and support.
