Repairing Houses in a War-Torn Village
Published: Jul 30, 2024 Reading time: 2 minutes
Klymentove in Sumy Oblast used to be a popular destination for vacationers from all over, drawn in by its coniferous forest, clean river, and recreation centers. However, the war brought devastation to the village. Though not under occupation, Klymentove was ruthlessly bombed by the Russians. Residents endured living in cellars as nearly half of the village's houses were damaged or destroyed. With the support of the European Union, we are assisting locals in rebuilding their homes. This photo report showcases the ongoing reconstruction efforts in the village as it strives to return to its peaceful past.
48-year-old Oleh is pictured on the roof of his damaged house. In the midst of hostilities, he bravely provided essential supplies to his neighbors. Klymentove residents endured weeks of shelling without access to electricity and gas.
Oleh's house displays signs of progress, with new windows installed and roof repairs underway.
The entire yard bore the scars of shelling, evident in the shrapnel scattered around.
74-year-old Paraskeviia Oleksiivna stands in her damaged yard, a victim of air strikes. Her house, like many others, suffered severe damage.
Paraskeviia managed to buy and install two windows with her limited funds, spending a harsh winter in these conditions.
Neighbors pitch in to help repair Paraskeviia's home, showing solidarity in the face of destruction.
The community is slowly rebuilding, with many damaged houses awaiting restoration.
Svitlana Syzonenko, 56, poses in front of her damaged home, recalling a harrowing experience where a bomb landed near their yard. Thanks to timely action, she and her husband escaped to the cellar just before the explosion, which shattered windows and doors.
Svitlana and her husband, Volodymyr, who has a disability and relies on a modest pension, face challenges in making ends meet. Thanks to funding from the European Union, they, alongside other affected families, received assistance to repair their homes, offering a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
The destruction in Sumy Oblast paints a grim picture, compounded by ongoing shelling in border regions. Organizations like People in Need have stepped in to aid over a thousand families in rebuilding their homes, providing crucial support such as earmarked funds, roof repairs, and essential materials. For many residents, these repairs would have been unattainable without external assistance, given their financial constraints.
Through these efforts, we aim to restore not just houses but also the hope and resilience of the affected communities, offering a ray of hope amidst the destruction wrought by conflict.
