Since the first days of Russian aggression, Poltava oblast has become a shelter for many people who have been forced to flee their homes due to active hostilities. It has already sheltered about 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). This was announced by Iryna Balybina, Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in Poltava oblast.

According to her, the main task for the rear municipalities in relatively safe regions is to provide IDPs with temporary housing, food and basic necessities. At the same time, there are unplanned costs that have become a challenge for local hromadas:

“That is why, while preparing the support package, U-LEAD with Europe based on the urgent needs of municipalities and formed loads out of basic emergency necessities. “Shelter” and “Lighting” kits were formed, which included: tents, camp beds, mats, sleeping bags, blankets, 1000 liter drinking water tanks, powerful generators, basic and hygienic kits for IDPs,” said Iryna Balybina.

The other day 5 municipalities received the first batch of “Shelter” kits: hromadas of Biloserkivka, Hradyzk, Hlobyne, Kozelshchyna, Khorol, the work continues.

In total, 10 municipalities of the oblast will receive assistance, in addition to those listed there are hromadas of Machukhy, Myrhorod, Nekhvoroshcha, Shyshaky and Chutove.

The Khorol City Council has already announced the receipt of U-LEAD’s assistance on its Facebook page:

“We thank our European partners for understanding the complexity of the situation in Ukraine and support! The war showed who is our true friend and who cares about Ukrainians not in words but in deeds.”