Over the past two years of full-scale war, the number of internally displaced persons in Mykolaiv has increased tenfold. According to media reports, there are currently about 50,000 IDPs living in the city, which is the population of an entire district centre, who continue to arrive, fleeing shelling and occupation.
Each of them has a story of a ruined life that needs to be rebuilt. The most acute problem remains housing: according to the Council on IDP Issues, 230 families are waiting for improved conditions, and 119 need urgent shelter, while there are only a few vacant apartments in the city’s housing stock.
In these extremely difficult circumstances, our charity organisation Shchedryk, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as part of the Strong Together: Protection and Recovery in Mykolaiv and Kherson Regions project, continues to support those who find themselves in difficult life situations. Our goal is not just to provide advice, but to help people find support in their new environment.
Real help in numbers and actions:
We work in several areas to address the most important needs of displaced persons and vulnerable groups:
Legal support
During the month, 80 legal consultations were held, 13 of which were hotline inquiries. People received explanations, support, and specific steps to resolve their issues.
Social support
Case workers provided individual support to eight people requiring special attention and processed 12 complex requests.
Psychosocial and creative activities
To help children and adults cope with stress, eight creative workshops (candle making, shopping bag decorating, and art therapy) were held in January, bringing together 77 participants (44 children and 33 adults).
‘The most important thing today is to support people at a time when they are most vulnerable. We help children, teenagers and parents adapt to their new surroundings, because behind every number in our reports there is a person who needs faith in tomorrow,’ said Yevgeniya Lagodinskaya, head of the project.
Mykolaiv demonstrates incredible resilience, becoming a new home for thousands of Ukrainians. And Shchedryk, together with its IRC partners, remains close by so that everyone who needs help feels that they are not alone.