Humanitarian Impact of Intensified Hostilities in Kharkivska Oblast – Flash Update #7
HIGHLIGHTS
Hostilities across Kharkivska Oblast continued unabated, with daily reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Since 10 May, some 830 people have been accommodated in 45 collective sites in Kharkiv City and its vicinity; humanitarian organizations provided assistance and continued to monitor needs in the collective sites while exploring additional capacities to house more people.
Aid workers mobilized in response to the strikes across the Oblast and continued to support the evacuation process for people fleeing active hostilities
The power supply in Kharkivska Oblast has been severely impacted by the damage to energy facilities caused by repeated attacks in Ukraine; Kharkivoblenergo announced additional power cuts in the oblast.
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
Hostilities across Kharkivska Oblast continued unabated, with daily reports of more civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Civilians and civilian infrastructure were reportedly impacted widely across Kharkivska Oblast, including in Kharkiv City and its vicinity, as well as Vovchansk Town and villages in Kupianskyi Raion. On 19 May, authorities announced over 50 civilian casualties in one day alone, including children, first responders and health workers. Homes, a hospital, a kindergarten and facilities at a recreational zone were damaged, according to the same source. More houses and civilian infrastructure, including civilian public transport, were reported damaged in Kharkiv City in the early morning of 21 May.
Civilians continued to flee front-line and border hromadas, including through coordinated evacuations organized by humanitarian organizations and volunteer groups in close collaboration with authorities and rescue services. Others have left by their own means.
As of 20 May 2024, there are 83 collective sites in Kharkivska Oblast – 45 of which are located in Kharkiv City – accommodating nearly 7,000 people. Humanitarians, together with authorities, have been working to identify and prepare additional capacities to accommodate more people. According to the CCCM Cluster, the most immediate needs in collective sites are household supplies, in particular, to arrange sleeping spaces, appliances such as fridges, stoves, washing machines, kitchen sets, as well as hygiene supplies.
The power supply in Kharkiv City and Kharkivska Oblast has been severely impacted by the damage to the energy facilities caused by repeated attacks across Ukraine. On top of scheduled power outages imposed by the national energy company, Ukrenergo, on 20 and 21 May across the country, the regional utility, Kharkivoblenergo, announced additional power cuts in the oblast. Metro service was temporarily disrupted on 21 May in Kharkiv City due to power cuts.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Aid workers mobilized in response to the strikes across the oblast with Ukrainian Red Cross Society teams having supported first responders in the village of Cherkaska Lozova, where a recreational zone was hit on 19 May, and Humanitarian Mission Proliska teams deployed to support people in Kharkiv City, providing emergency repair materials and immediate psychological assistance.
Humanitarian organizations also continued to support the evacuation process for people fleeing active hostilities in the most affected hromadas of Kharkivska Oblast, including with special consideration for older people and people with disabilities or limited mobility.
Between 10-18 May, around 3,500 people evacuated through social transport were registered and received immediate aid at the transit centre in Kharkiv City. During the same period, 5,500 people who had left the affected areas by their own means were also provided with immediate support on-site at the centre.
At the transit centre, people received food, water, clothes, mattresses, bedding, household items, hygiene and other essentials. Almost 3,500 people were also registered for multi-purpose cash assistance. Humanitarians have been conducting referrals and case management for people arriving at the centre. People have access to psycho-social support and legal assistance, including housing, land and property for compensation for damaged and destroyed property.
Since 10 May, some 830 people have been accommodated in 45 collective sites in Kharkiv City and its vicinity, of them nearly 450 women and 380 men; 65 children and over 300 older people. This also includes 167 people with limited mobility.
The International Organization for Migration, the Relief Coordination Centre, Right to Protection and the UN Refugee Agency have been monitoring collective sites housing people who recently arrived from across the oblast, including conducting assessment of living conditions
Humanitarian assistance was also provided to people accommodated in collective sites, including food packages and hot meals, water, hygiene supplies, household supplies and other basic items, multi-purpose cash assistance, medical care, mental health and psycho-social support.
In addition to the transit centre, humanitarians have been monitoring Kharkiv Railway Station, which serves as a transit point for people fleeing hostilities on their own, referring people for further support as needed.
NOTE: This Flash Update is prepared through collected public information and current response data from partners available at the time of publication and could be amended as the situation evolves.