A city hanging in....

Arriving in Kherson, at the checkpoint into the city, we were met quite rightly, given what is happening here with a thorough check of all our documentation, passports, paperwork for the aid etc. Our phones were also taken and messages and contacts checked. No smiles or words exchanged. Here the army wear full protection. However after about 10 minutes and having photographed all documents and phones, he let us @through with the words in English         " Good luck ".

We delivered the aid to the centre where it is distributed. All a bit hectic today given the situation here with all the flooding. But all incredibly well run and efficient at getting the aid out. We were told that aid workers, trying to rescue civilians, were coming under Russian shelling attacks.

We were shown the place where in future we will try to do English lessons. It's underground. The only real safe place. Challenging.

In the afternoon we were taken to an apartment which we have been offered during our first stay here. 

We did a bit of food shopping and went for a walk. The sound of shelling always in the background. 

But this is not a city as you would know it.

There is hardly anyone on the streets, nor many cars. The few places that are open are closed by 4-5pm. Official curfew is 7pm. Unofficial it's more like 3-4pm. I have never seen anything like it. 

We walked through a park that at one time must have been beautiful. Now it's overgrown, and completely empty. Returning to nature.  Playgrounds void of children. Or practically anyone. Such silence in a city.

And as background noise, the fairly constant sound of the Russian shells and the air defence of Ukraine. It must be so frightening to people here...as it is to us. It's psychological terror, perpetrated and carried out by the Russian State. 

The flooding due to the dam having been destroyed, has brought further untold misery to thousands, as if things here weren't challenging enough. 

However, the rescue missions continue. Many inflatable dinghies are arriving. There are still aid organisations, and individuals helping here. We wish them all safety. And also too, the innocent people of Kherson. 

Below, where we are staying for the night....we sat on a bench just before curfew contemplating our future.

We were not able to publish this last night, as there was no internet. It was not an easy night with the shelling. At about 02:30 there was a really large blast. Not good.

It also looks as if the mini playscheme we wanted to do might not happen, due to the regulations regarding children gathering together. We will need to clarify this. 

All through the night, the rescuing of victims caught up in the flooding continued. Fresh drinking water is now becoming a major issue for many. Today we will go back to Odesa and hopefully collect some more aid to bring back.