Four damaged walls, a leaky roof, a broken stove, and boarded-up windows — this is the new home of Liubov from the liberated area of Khersonska Oblast. Recently, she and her husband were forced to leave their native village of Novodmytrivka, moving 10 kilometers away due to constant shelling.
“They gave us a small house which has absolutely nothing. We carry water in buckets from a neighbor’s well. In Novodmytrivka, we were used to living with all the amenities, but it’s very dangerous there now. Drones carrying explosives fly over us every day, targeting civilians,” Liubov says, tears in her eyes.
Originally from Khmelnytska Oblast, Liubov moved to Khersonska Oblast with her parents as a child. Her entire life, along with her family, has been dedicated to farming — growing various vegetables and selling them at the local market. Even while living under nine months of occupation, her family continued working, despite the challenges.
“Life in occupation was very hard. Although we had planted fields, we couldn’t go anywhere. We were constantly humiliated, they were taking everything: vehicles, food, sweets for the children; they were checking our mobile phones. But we endured it all. After the occupation, our farm in Novodmytrivka even survived. Now, 80 people work there,” she recalls.
Thanks to the Provision of Lifesaving Winterization, NFI, and Shelter Support to Conflict Affected Populations in Ukraine project implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in partnership with CARE.Ukraine and CARE Österreich, with support from NACHBAR IN NOT, Liubov received a non-food item kit from our Foundation. It included a mattress, sleeping bag, thermal blanket, power bank, flashlight, and thermos.
“Life in the community is very hard right now, but we’re used to living on our land, managing things ourselves, and we don’t want to leave. I’ve never accepted any aid before because my family has always worked hard in the fields, trading, and before the war, we lived abundantly. But now, this kit means so much to us because we have nothing. Thanks to your help, winter and the cold are no longer as terrifying,” she says.
In total, 1,650 residents of Khersonska and Zaporizka oblasts will receive non-food item kits as part of the project’s implementation.