At the heart of the response: Humanitarian Coordinator meets affected communities in Kharkiv 

As fighting continues to devastate communities in Ukraine, the Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Matthias Schmale, and the Head of OCHA Ukraine, Mr. Andrea De Domenico, travelled to Kharkiv city on 13 May to meet with war-affected people affected civilians and humanitarian partners working on the ground. They went to some of the most heavily impacted areas of the city, where efforts to support the vulnerable displaced and war-affected people are ongoing.   

In the ruins of Northern Saltivka   

In Northern Saltivka—once one of Kharkiv City’s most densely populated districts—Mr. Schmale and Mr. de Domenico walked through neighbourhoods that have endured almost daily repeated shelling since 2022.   

Hundreds of multi-storey apartment buildings—once home to thousands—now stand shattered or hollowed out. One of their stops was at the remains of a demolished 16-storey building that suffered irreversible damage.   

They met with a group of residents—11 women and 4 men—who were affected by a drone strike on 26 February 2025 and are still living in the area. Humanitarian organizations responded quickly with emergency cash assistance that let survivors address their most urgent needs.   

An elderly man said, “The cash assistance came just in time. I used it to buy medicine I badly needed. The money came within a week of registering.”   

Another woman, in her 50s, shared the challenges of staying in Kharkiv, while caring for her bedridden mother: “I couldn’t leave her. I had no choice. I felt helpless, but I stayed. Thankfully, we’re still in our city.”      

Displacement, loss, and hope in a collective site   

The delegation also visited a collective site in Kharkiv, set up in 2022, now home to 187 people—mostly older residents who fled front-line towns in the Kharkiv Region. The site is supported by the NGO Rokada through a project funded by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF). Aid workers provide mental health and psychosocial support, legal counselling, case management, and services for people with limited mobility. They are also undertaking essential repairs to improve living conditions at the site.   

Displaced residents who met with the humanitarian leaders came primarily from the Kupiansk and Vovchansk areas. Many spoke of their deep yearning to return home, even as widespread destruction and insecurity make that impossible for now. One woman from the Kupiansk Raion said she still dreams of her garden and neighbourhood, unchanged in her memories.   

Others reflected on the emotional toll of displacement. One elderly woman, her eyes welling up with tears, recalled the loss of her home, built with her own hands and completed in 2010, which is now completely destroyed. “Home is home. Nothing else feels the same,” she said quietly. Another resident described months of isolation and stress before she began to recover, thanks to the supportive environment at the site.    

“Alongside the trauma and hardship people shared with us, it was clear how vital humanitarian support remains,” said Matias Schmale, Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine. “From emergency cash assistance to legal counselling and psychosocial care, these interventions are helping people regain a sense of dignity and stability amid ongoing displacement.”     

Strengthening the Response   

During their visit, Mr. Schmale and Mr. de Domenico also held meetings with UN agencies and local and international humanitarian organizations based in Kharkiv. Discussions focused on the importance of strengthening coordination for an effective and accountable response in the Kharkiv Region.   

Amid decreased funding and security challenges, in the first three months of 2025, humanitarian organizations reached some 2.3 million people across Ukraine with life-saving aid. This included access to clean water, health care, protection services, education support, and emergency shelter. In the Kharkiv Region alone, 187 humanitarian partners supported over 313,000 people during this period—highlighting both the scale of the needs and the dedication of aid workers on the ground.   

Humanitarian partners remain committed to reaching those most in need, even in the most challenging areas. As one resident said, “Your help reminds us we are not alone.”  

This story is written by Iryna Chernysh and Viktoriia Andriievska (UN OCHA).