Tetiana, a 57-year-old resident of Kherson, shared her experiences during our visit to the Kherson HUB. Our team’s objective was to assess how the city is managing the humanitarian crisis amidst constant shelling and determine additional ways to support Kherson.
“When our houses were destroyed after the dam was blown up, we lost everything we’d saved over the years,” Tetiana recounted. “Accessing basic necessities like food, appliances, and furniture became hard.”
Residents, including Tetiana, resorted to using rainwater for washing clothes. “Charitable organizations provided bottled water for cooking, while we used collected water for washing clothes and other household needs,” she explained.
Despite these hardships, Tetiana observed a positive change in the community. The people of Kherson, brought together by their shared difficulties, have been supporting each other. Following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, charities and ordinary people stepped in, bringing essential supplies like water, bread, and hot meals. “We were not left alone to deal with the situation, we were supported, people responded. I would like to thank everyone for their care, for their compassion, for their ability to empathize with people’s grief, not only their own but also that of others,” Tetiana expressed her gratitude.
In response to the war’s impact on Kherson’s residents, we plan to open a social laundry in the city. This service will allow residents to wash their clothes, bedding, and other linens for free. This was made possible as part of the “Rapid Emergency Support to affected population in Khersonska and Mykolaivska regions in Southern Ukraine, Kherson flood response (RRM)” project.
“The need for social laundries is increasing as Kherson continues to face shelling,” stated Andriy Andriushchenko, Head of the Humanitarian Aid Department of the Kherson City Military Administration. He emphasized that social laundries are crucial for maintaining sustainable living conditions for those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.
The project “Rapid Emergency Support to affected population in Khersonska and Mykolaivska regions in Southern Ukraine, Kherson flood response (RRM)” is being implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with the support of the international humanitarian organization CARE.