Humanitarian Coordinator Highlights Community Resilience in Southern Ukraine Visit

Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts remain among the areas most affected by ongoing hostilities in southern Ukraine. Civilian infrastructure continues to suffer repeated damage, leaving the most vulnerable people in need of support. Local and international humanitarian partners are working tirelessly to assist communities. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, travelled to Mykolaiv and Kherson to meet with authorities, partners, and communities and to witness firsthand the impact of humanitarian assistance delivered by UN and partner organizations.

Bread and Resilience in Mykolaiv

In Mykolaiv, the Coordinator visited a local bakery operated by Mavi Hilal, the International Blue Crescent (IBC). The bakery is a lifeline for food-insecure communities in the south, producing up to 3,500 loaves of bread five days a week. 

By 9:00 a.m. daily, fresh bread is distributed through over 25 local partners, reaching internally displaced people, the elderly, and low-income families. Weekly deliveries to Kherson ensure 1,500 loaves reach communities along the front line.

The visit continued to the Resilience Centre established by the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health in collaboration with the Mykolaiv City Council and the Ministry of Social Policy. Now fully funded by local authorities, the centre provides critical psychosocial assistance and social support services. 

“This is an excellent example of how humanitarian and government actors can work hand in hand to build sustainable support systems,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator.

Later, during a meeting with national and international NGOs, participants discussed the operational landscape in the south, including coordination challenges and the reprioritization of the humanitarian response. The Humanitarian Coordinator emphasized the importance of inclusive efforts, especially at the sub-national level.

Community-Driven Response in Kherson

The mission continued to Kherson, a city reeling from daily shelling and long-standing disruption to daily routines. The Humanitarian Coordinator met with volunteers from “Food of Life”, a local group providing hot meals twice a week to residents in front-line neighbourhoods.

He then visited the Mongoose shelter. The shelter run by local organization Mangoose accommodates people displaced by attacks, offering meals, legal support, psychosocial services, and guidance on accessing further assistance. 

“With daily care and support from social workers, this centre offers dignity and stability to those who have lost everything,” Schmale noted.

At a meeting point for social transport organized by the NGO Humanitarian Mission Proliska, the Humanitarian Coordinator saw how teams are facilitating mobility for people in remote villages, linking them to essential services in Kherson. 

At another stop, local NGO partner Misto Syly highlighted how construction materials had been distributed to support home repairs, part of a broader shelter recovery initiative led by local NGOs and supported by international donors.

In Posad Pokrovske, a village heavily impacted by fighting with the Russian Federation, the Humanitarian Coordinator observed food distributions managed by ADRA under a WFP programme. Nearby, in Luch village, Solidarités International demonstrated shelter repair efforts interventions funded by ECHO, CDCS and AFD.

Working with Authorities for Recovery and Protection

In Kherson City, the Humanitarian Coordinator met with the Governor of Kherson Oblast to discuss humanitarian priorities, including support for internally displaced people and early recovery plans. The Governor shared his vision for the region’s recovery and reaffirmed the importance of coordination with humanitarian partners.

In his remarks during the meeting with Matthias Schmale, the Governor said: “I am grateful that our partners continue to personally visit our region despite ongoing shelling — and today, even airstrikes on the central district of the city.” He added: “Even under these circumstances, we managed to outline the next steps for cooperation, including expanding support for displaced families, winterization, and sustainable energy solutions.”

The final stop of the mission was the Transit Centre in Mykolaiv, operated by the NGO “Youth of Ukraine,” which has supported over 32,000 evacuees from Kherson oblast since 2022, offering short-term shelter and onward transportation.

Staying the Course

As hostilities intensify in eastern and southern Ukraine, the Humanitarian Coordinator reaffirmed the commitment of the UN and humanitarian partners to stay and deliver:

“Despite the risks and losses, local volunteers, NGOs, and international partners are here every day – delivering food, supporting evacuations, repairing homes, and offering a lifeline of hope. Their dedication is extraordinary. We will continue to support them and ensure our response evolves to meet the shifting needs on the ground.”