The war deeply impacted the village of Novotymofiivka in Mykolaivska Oblast: the scars of occupation, danger, and unemployment remain daily realities for its residents. Due to the high risk of shelling, humanitarian aid rarely arrives here.
“The village is located near the Daryivska community of Khersonska Oblast. Although the frontline is 27 kilometers away, it is truly dangerous there. People live in extremely difficult conditions, forced to rely on themselves because humanitarian aid is not delivered here consistently,” says Anna Vasylenko, regional coordinator of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in Mykolaivska Oblast. According to Anna, despite the challenging security situation, the Foundation’s team recently delivered fuel briquettes to local residents for heating their homes and cooking.
Valentyna was among the recipients of solid fuel. She lives alone in Novotymofiivka, with her only relative — a cousin — currently in Kherson and needing assistance himself.
“Life is very hard… If there was work, I would definitely go, but for now, I survive on the vegetables and fruits I grow myself and in winter — on canned food. Occasionally, a fellow villager hires me for a temporary job in the fields so I can pay for electricity. I save as much as I can,” Valentyna says with regret.
The last time she received humanitarian aid was in the fall of 2024, and since then, no volunteers have visited the village. When she heard there was a chance to receive two tons of fuel briquettes, she was overjoyed.
“There is no gas supply in our village, and even if there were, I wouldn’t be able to pay for it since I receive no state assistance. This is the first time I’ve received briquettes, and I couldn’t be happier because this is much-needed help: now I can cook in the oven and keep the house warm,” says Valentyna gratefully.
This publication was prepared as part of the Lifesaving: Protection, Shelter, and WASH for War-Affected Regions project, implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in partnership with Malteser International, with the support of Aktion Deutschland Hilft.