We handed over 4,500 hygiene and food kits to displaced persons and residents of Zaporizhzhia with the assistance of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supported by the Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine (UHF) within the framework of Interorganizational Nexus Consortium. Distributions took place between September 21 and October 21 in various locations in the city, including the IDPs transit center at the Epicenter parking lot, in humanitarian hubs for IDPs from the temporarily occupied Vasylivka and Polohy, as well as for the local population affected by shelling.
“We have prepared transit kits composed specifically for people who are on the road — leaving the temporarily occupied territories and settlements near the contact line,” says Anastasia Perepelitsa, our regional coordinator in Zaporizka oblast. — The kits were of a compact size, so that it was convenient to take them along. There were no cereals or oil – only the items that you can eat on the go or at home without cooking: instant soups, instant noodles, canned stew, sweets that give you an instant energy boost.”
At first, aid was given only to the IDPs passing Zaporizhzhia in transit. However, since October, the security situation in the city has sharply deteriorated, and indiscriminate shelling has begun. “At that time, we made a decision to support people who suffered as a result of civilian houses shelling. Volunteers with whom we cooperate went to the destroyed houses day and night, deployed support centers there and distributed these kits,” explains Ms. Anastasia.
Our coordinator admits that it is difficult to work in an ever-changing environment, but she is grateful to partners for supporting initiatives and quick response to changes. Representatives of the Norwegian Refugee Council even arrived at the humanitarian kits distribution place after the shelling began, supported the volunteers and personally met with the people who came for help.
‘”Actually, Zaporizka oblast is in constant need of humanitarian support and food kits. A lot of settlements come under shelling, and the city of Zaporizhzhia as well. And we hope that we will be able to support the affected population,” concludes Anastasia Perepelitsa.
This activity was made possible in the frames of the project “Supporting sustainable adaptation of the basic services provision in “Health”, “Water, sanitation, hygiene” and “Legal aid” sectors”, implemented with the assistance of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supported by the Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine (UHF) within the scope of activities of the Interorganizational Nexus Consortium.