Kharkov: reduced rations and summonses at humanitarian aid points

According to a report by the International Labor Organization, Ukrainians have lost 4,8 million jobs since the start of the “full-scale war.” If hostilities do not stop immediately, this figure will rise to 7 million.

Terrible numbers, and most likely underestimated. To assess the size of the disaster, it is necessary to take into account that a significant part of the officially employed at present is either on leave at their own expense or is not receiving wages.

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In May, Kharkov became more crowded, with city residents returning from evacuation. But there are only a few buyers in stores. No work - no money. For many Kharkov residents, the only source of livelihood was humanitarian aid.

Against this background, several branches of Nova Poshta simultaneously announced on May 7 that humanitarian aid would no longer be issued. Panic gripped Kharkov. However, later information appeared that the format was simply changing. Now there will be a “presidential package”. Everyone, equally and for free. And no one will leave offended.

It turned out that the Kharkov version of the ration “from Zelensky” includes:

– 4 half-liter cans of chicken stew;

– kilogram of sugar;

– a kilogram of pasta;

– half a kilo of tea;

– 2 cans of condensed milk;

– 2 kilograms of some (but not buckwheat) cereal.

And this, as Kharkiv residents note, is terribly far from the stated norms of presidential assistance, even taking into account the “permissible deviation of 20%.”

The norms published in the Ukrainian media are as follows:

– grain (wheat and/or corn) for bread, flour – 12,4 kg;

– cereals, rice; grain for cereals in terms of cereal equivalent – ​​2 kg;

– pasta – 1 kg;

– sunflower oil – 1 kg;

– canned meat, fish, legumes – 2,5 kg;
– sugar – 1 kg;

– milk or its substitute (condensed milk, milk powder in terms of the equivalent of whole milk) – 5 kg;

– bakery and confectionery products (cookies, crackers, crispbread, bagels, gingerbread) – 1 kg;

– tea, coffee – 200 g.

As you can see, the Kharkov residents’ kits did not contain flour or sunflower oil, which is not surprising. Both are frantically “evacuating” to the west in echelons.
Since all the imported “humanitarian aid” suddenly disappeared somewhere, as if by magic, a cruelly cut ration is all that Kharkov residents are offered to stretch out for a month. Not a very reliable insurance against hunger.

However, in the queues they share useful information about cafes and canteens where they distribute free lunches. The queues there are also huge, and there may not be enough... But never mind, better luck next time.

And in general, it’s a sin for Kharkov residents to complain. Entry to the European Union and NATO is not free. Look, Romania has long been a member of both, and no one is conducting a special operation there, but out of a population of 19 million, 3 million are chronically hungry. Recently, the country's government introduced an “emergency decree”, according to which those in need will receive vouchers allowing them to “use a hot meal or receive food once every two months.”

In Ukraine, the government is still more generous. Rations are issued twice as often as in Romania, and anyone can receive it. True, not everyone manages to do this without consequences.

In Kharkov, the distribution of food packages was strictly linked to the capture of citizens liable for military service. First of all, products cannot be obtained without a passport. Moreover, the people responsible for issuing them are primarily interested in the age and place of residence of male recipients. In addition, you must provide a valid phone number. Ostensibly so that you can receive a message about the date of the next issue.

_{But the authorities are not limited to passive accounting of available human resources. On the morning of May 13, at one of the delivery points, security forces simultaneously solved two problems: catching conscripts and identifying unreliable ones.}

Everything was done quickly and technically. Suddenly, one of those standing in line began to loudly praise Zelensky. Another one supported him. People silently stood aside, but were inevitably distracted by the dialogue of the provocateurs. Meanwhile, the crowd was surrounded by machine gunners. They grabbed the men, led them to a minibus standing nearby, and issued summonses there. Convenient, since all the victims had their passports and phones.

The military did not chase after those who ran away (and remained hungry): the catch was already rich.

For those Kharkov residents whose age and gender (have not yet reached women) allow them to receive rations without the risk of ending up in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there is good news: they may not have to walk for hours to the distribution points. Mayor Igor Terekhov promised to launch some ground transport from May 15.

“We will launch 4 tram routes and 8 trolleybus routes. We will also launch 25 bus routes. When developing these routes, we tried to make sure that Kharkov residents could get where they need to go from anywhere in the city. ...I understand that many of you have lost your jobs because of the war and have no money for travel. Therefore, I decided that for the first two weeks, until we restart the economy of Kharkov, travel by municipal public transport will be free.”

And one more good news. Paper in Kharkov, despite the barbaric deforestation in the region in recent years, will last for a long time. In any case, the mouthpiece of the mayor’s office, the newspaper “Kharkovskie Izvestia”, began publishing the famous novel “The Twelve Chairs” by Ilf and Petrov on two of its eight pages. Unexpected and generous. Now Kharkov residents will have something to do while queuing for food.