Kyiv, Ukraine, 12 February 2024 — The International Rescue Committee, with the support of the European Union (EU), continues to deliver vital assistance to vulnerable populations in Kherson and nearby areas. These regions have endured relentless shelling in recent months, resulting in severe hardships for the local population due to disruptions in heating and electricity supply. On 5 December 2023, the humanitarian hub of the IRC's partner, I Am Kherson (Ya Kherson), was destroyed, resulting in the loss of essential humanitarian aid supplies.
In collaboration with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community centres, and volunteer networks, the IRC has established a resilient network of partnerships. These collaborations are crucial for expanding the IRC's operations to reach affected communities and for conducting rapid needs assessments to ensure an effective response to the ongoing war.
With financial support from the EU Humanitarian Aid and other generous donors, the IRC has been able to address the immediate needs of conflict-affected individuals, offering protection from harm and ensuring their basic necessities are met. In collaboration with local partners, the IRC has provided 623 families with gas stoves and cylinders while it also distributed 2,050 shelter kits to facilitate the light repairs of households damaged by shelling.
Kateryna Yukhymchuk, IRC’s Acting Field Coordinator, emphasised the importance of international humanitarian support:
“The southern and eastern regions of Ukraine are facing persistent shelling, forcing civilians to seek refuge in basements amid daily sirens and explosions. Homes, humanitarian centres, and critical infrastructure have all been targeted by attacks. Some of our clients tell us they have been forced to sleep in winter clothes to endure the cold. Sustained donor commitment to humanitarian aid is indispensable for people now deprived of heating and electricity, confronting the harsh winter conditions.”
Claudia Amaral, Head of the EU Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine, added:
‘The hardhips that the Ukrainian people endure amidst this ruthless war is heart breaking, but their strength and resilience is inspiring. As the European Union, we stand with Ukrainians especially during this harsh winter. Together with our partners, we continue to support them with food, water, medical supplies, shelter materials, and other essential supplies ensuring assistance reaches those who need it most, each and every day.’
About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid: The European Union and its Member States are among the world's leading donors of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and human-induced crises. Through the Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.