Author: Valentyna Chabanova-Babak, Content Manager, Link Platform

For more effective humanitarian aid delivery in de-occupied communities of southern Ukraine, the Link local humanitarian response coordination mechanism team created a platform where humanitarian organizations can see and reserve needs for fulfillment. The mechanism is implemented by the Legal Development Network in partnership with the Czech humanitarian organization People in Need, funded by the UK government.

The Link mechanism team focuses on unnoticed and unmet needs of residents in de-occupied communities of Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts. Each need that enters the system is verified from two or more sources. Every two weeks, Link platform local coordinators contact community representatives to clarify the relevance of stated needs. This approach ensures aid delivery to settlements that need it at the current moment.

Vadym Kasianov, coordinator of mobile teams at CF “Pomagaem,” says that the Link platform allows aid to be directed exactly where it is needed.

Vadym Kasianov, coordinator of mobile teams at CF “Pomagaem”

“Information from Link corresponds to the actual need on the ground. We always see that people truly need help; these are not oversaturated locations. The idea of creating a platform that records and coordinates aid is very effective,” says Vadym Kasianov.

Within the framework of cooperation with Link, CF “Pomagaem” met community needs in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. Specifically, these included winter aid kits (blanket, power bank, thermos, etc.), hygiene kits, and cash assistance.

“We clarified with Link in which communities and settlements people had not received anything for the longest time. Often, frontline territories have an oversaturation of humanitarian aid. At the same time, communities more distant from the front, for example, Bereznehuvate, which is 60 km from the front line, need no less, since there are many displaced persons there and no work,” explains Vadym Kasianov, coordinator of mobile teams at CF “Pomagaem.”

Humanitarian aid from CF “Pomagaem” was received by, among others, residents of the Murakhivskyi starostat district of Bereznehuvate community. The district starosta says that winter aid kits were especially valuable, helping people survive power outages.

Andrii Zhylenko, starosta of Murakhivskyi starostynstvo district, Bereznehuvate community, Mykolaiv oblast

“Everything related to energy independence, even in small volumes, always helps. Battery and solar-powered flashlights, as well as blankets, were very useful. Thermoses and flashlights became especially relevant during power outages,” says Andrii Zhylenko, starosta of Murakhivskyi starostat district.

Vadym Kasianov emphasizes the importance of coordinating the efforts of all organizations involved in humanitarian response to effectively meet community needs.

“If we work in other settlements of Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, we always pass information to Link about which communities and population categories were covered by aid, to avoid duplication and ensure data relevance on the platform,” says Vadym Kasianov.

In the photo: During needs assessment for the Link platform in Murakhivskyi starostat, Bereznehuvate community, Mykolaiv Oblast. Autumn 2024

Andrii Zhylenko says that as starosta, he constantly seeks humanitarian aid for residents of his starostat district — seven villages where about 600 people currently live. He often contacts foundations independently, but cooperation with Link is great support.

“Cooperation with Link is ongoing. I really like that they created a platform, cooperate with foundations, and direct their aid. This is very effective,” says Andrii Zhylenko.

Uniting efforts in humanitarian response allows communities to receive targeted and relevant aid even in settlements that often remain overlooked.

The material was prepared by the Legal Development Network in partnership with the Czech humanitarian organization People in Need, funded by the UK government.

The conclusions and interpretations of collected information presented in the material are solely the position of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of the donors and project partners.