A small settlement of modular houses near the war-stricken town of Borodianka recently became home to around 280 people. Less than a year ago, practically all the residents of this new community lived peacefully in their own houses and apartments. But after 24 February, Borodianka, situated on the outskirts of Kyiv, came under heavy bombardment and fell under temporary military control for 5 weeks.
The damage and destruction to this small town is striking; many people lost their homes, businesses closed, and shops were destroyed.
Most of the residents of this recently built modular settlement are from Borodianka, while around 30 are internally displaced from other war-affected areas such as Luhanska, Donetska and Kharkivska oblasts. The modular settlement serves as temporary accommodation until their houses are repaired and they can return home.
The settlement is a two-row street of grey multifunctional units, stretched across a plot of land. It consists of five modular units, with 22 rooms in each. The modular houses fully depend on electricity to heat the rooms, to cook food in the kitchen and to light the buildings.
Communal areas have been set up to give the residents space for social activities, including a children’s playroom, a sports hall and a prayer room. With the help of local volunteers, a communal kitchen was established. The settlement also offers the opportunity to take computer and language classes for those looking to learn new skills during this period of disruption.
Families have added a personal touch to their new homes. Doors are colorfully decorated with ornaments and drawings: butterflies, flowers, a kitten with a sign “With Ukraine in my heart”.
One of the most recent challenges faced by residents has been the frequent power cuts as a result of repeated attacks on energy infrastructure. “It is very difficult without electricity,” one resident explains, “especially when it comes to studying or cooking. Everything stops, and people try to close the doors to keep their rooms warm”.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with support from the people of Japan, has recently installed generators in the settlement to help the people living there to keep warm this winter. These generators are part of a support package that includes 60 generators and over 80,000 solar lamps.
“We have nowhere [else] to live. Half of our home was burned down. That’s why we will stay here temporarily until our house is repaired. There are three or four-hour power cuts twice a day. We tried to finish all our work whilst there’s daylight. The rooms became cold in just an hour, and it is not yet freezing outside. So, we are happy we have generators now”, says 55-year-old Valentyna. Valentyna’s home was very badly damaged during shelling and will need to be entirely rebuilt. The couple plans to stay at the settlement until their house is rebuilt.
Humanitarian needs continue to grow in Ukraine as the war continues and temperatures plummet during the winter. This modular settlement will expand to host a further 230 people whose homes have been severely damaged or destroyed, and UNHCR will continue to work closely with local authorities and distribute generators to key locations across the country.
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