Coordination to ensure rapid assistance: how the Rapid Response Group operates in the Kharkiv region

The event was attended by the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, the leadership of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, representatives of relevant services, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA Ukraine) and humanitarian organisations.

The Co-ordinating Humanitarian Centre was represented by its Chairman, Yevhen Kolyada. During the meeting, participants discussed the coordination of efforts between all the services and organisations involved, as effective cooperation is key to the prompt mitigation of the consequences of Russian attacks and the timely provision of assistance to those affected.

Particular attention during the meeting was paid to the work of the Rapid Response Group, of which the Charitable Organisation ‘Humanitarian Coordination Centre’ is a member. The Rapid Response Group currently comprises 18 humanitarian organisations, which jointly ensure a response to the consequences of enemy shelling.

In the first half of 2026, the team carried out 331 missions, and nearly 2,800 households received support. Amid daily Russian shelling, timely coordination between the authorities, emergency services and humanitarian organisations remains one of the key factors in effectively responding to the needs of those affected.