Thanks to the Rapid Response in the South of Ukraine, Kherson Flood Response project, we helped families affected by large-scale flooding and were forced to evacuate the area or stay in their inundated houses after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.
– “We realized that with the onset of cold weather, the families affected by the flooding faced a number of problems since the water destroyed most of their property, they had no way to cook, sleep or wash their clothes,” says Anna Borysova, Director for Humanitarian Response. “This is why this project gave us the opportunity to support the affected families.”
The project had two areas of focus: providing humanitarian kits and setting up social laundries for the affected people.
During the implementation of this project in Khersonska and Mykolaivska oblasts, we managed to:
Distribute:
- 325 family hygiene kits;
- 300 non-food kits;
- 500 individual non-food kits;
- 400 individual hygiene kits;
- 45,000 diapers;
- 45,000 adult diapers;
- 900 sleeping bags;
- 200 folding beds;
Create:
- Six social laundries with 10 washing machines and 10 dryers.
Two laundries in Mykolaiv operate on the premises of territorial centers that help people in difficult life situations, including IDPs, single persons with limited mobility, and large families. As many residents began to use the laundry services, the city authorities decided to support the initiative launched by the Foundation. In March, they created an additional position for two employees at the territorial centers to manage the laundry on a regular basis. They also provided funds for electricity and water. Such steps by Mykolaiv authorities are of great value to us because by working together and joining forces, we can help strengthen the community even further.
— “The laundry is in great demand, so we decided to continue running it. However, we are now focusing our assistance on IDPs, people with disabilities, and other socially vulnerable groups.” says Serhiy Bondarenko, director of the territorial center. “The Foundation provided us with detergents, but we have to cover the very significant costs of utilities on our own. However, no matter what, the laundry keeps working.”
Four laundries have been opened in Khersonska Oblast. One of them in Kherson is located in a specially designated collective center for residents of the Ostriv neighborhood, which was flooded after the Kakhovka dam was blown up. Three more social laundries were opened in the villages of Ingulets, Lymanets, and Fedorivka in the Daryivska community of Khersonska Oblast. These villages were under occupation, later suffered from the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, and now remain under constant Russian shelling and have problems with water supply.
The Rapid Response in the South of Ukraine, Kherson Flood Response project is being implemented by the CO CF SSS, with the support of the international humanitarian organization CARE.
