Flooding in Kherson Compounds the Devastation of War

Flooding in Kherson Compounds the Devastation of War
Thursday, August 17, 2023 by Amber Schafer

“Thanks to your financial assistance, we brought humanitarian aid to Kherson...We gave food and preached the Word of God to them.
I praise God for your sacrificial hearts and sympathy for those who weep. Blessings to all of you!” - Pastor Vasil, Church Network in Ukraine

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” -Romans 12:15

In early June, the Nova Kakhovka water dam in the Kherson region of Ukraine was damaged in the conflict. Numerous towns and villages along the Dnipro River were flooded, affecting around 40,000 people. Soon after the explosion of the dam, Rustam, our partner and director of the Generations Church Network in Ukraine, contacted us and said that “there are a lot of dead bodies in the water and the water is unclean, so people could quickly get sick. It is a very difficult situation. Many people need to be evacuated by boat.” With the devastation of flooding on top of the strain of ongoing war, needs quickly grew for humanitarian assistance, clean drinking water, and shelter.

You Helped Flood Victims in Kherson, Ukraine

For the Church Network to respond to the increased need, they required extra prayer and resources--fuel for transportation and boats, generators, food, and clean water to help those displaced. We are thankful that you responded by providing both prayer and financial support. Within days the Church Network in Ukraine

dispatched three trucks with humanitarian help. A report from the Church Network said, “We were able to send the first aid to Kherson—water, fuel, food, blankets, pillows, boots, clothing, and life jackets. The volunteer team also bought various tools for pumping out water.” They mobilized teams to areas along the Dnipro River to evaluate the need and work with the local churches, using their facilities as bases for distribution. Pastor Alexander of God’s Family Church in Ukraine writes, “Thank you very much for the help you sent us, brothers and sisters! Thank you for the food, other items, and especially the bedding, because a lot of people will need that. The victims didn’t have time to pack. They were diving into their flooded homes to take clothes, blankets, and pillows. Now we are washing them and trying to put them in order so that people can sleep and keep warm at night.”

A Recent Update from the Generations Church Network in Ukraine

The water has now receded, and people are returning to homes that survived the deluge. As people go back, the Church Network continues to provide necessary assistance to flood victims. They have purchased and packed over 500 food boxes and filled 20,000 liters of drinking water. With the help of the local churches, these items are being delivered to those who need it most.

Ministers and volunteers from the Church Network are planning a trip to the Kherson region soon to help rebuild housing and clean up debris from the flooding. They also hope to restore the prayer house in the village of Novopoltavka--replacing the roof and repairing the walls--so the church can again serve the people who live there.

Your ongoing prayer and support are appreciated!

As the war in Ukraine continues, with no end in sight to the destruction and displacements of its citizens, your prayer and support help the Church Network meet needs.

Read more about the impact of the Church Network in Ukraine as volunteers and chaplains serve others in Christ's love, pairing essential practical help with spiritual hope from God's word.

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