Ensuring food security in communities amid wartime challenges

This study aimed to analyse the food security of local communities in Ukraine under wartime challenges, with a focus on the impact of active hostilities on food resources, production levels, stocks, and humanitarian support. Additionally, the analysis considered the influence of tourism, especially in transit and remote communities. The study utilised data from statistical reports of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, information from local self-government bodies, international organisations such as the World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as survey results from residents of three communities: Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions. The survey covered issues regarding food availability, basic needs for essential food products, and the evaluation of humanitarian aid. The research employed online survey forms and telephone interviews, along with public information requests to local self-government bodies. The analysis revealed that the frontline community (Kharkiv region) faces the most significant challenges: 65% of respondents reported a severe shortage of basic foodstuffs, compared to 40% in the transit community (Dnipropetrovsk region) and 20% in the remote community (Lviv region). Official sources confirmed that after the outbreak of full-scale hostilities in 2022, the production volumes of key crops in Ukraine decreased by 40% in the frontline community, while food stocks reached critically low levels. International aid plays a crucial role in stabilising the situation, particularly by ensuring basic food needs and strengthening community resilience. The study results underscore the necessity of enhancing cooperation between territorial communities, government institutions, and humanitarian organisations, as well as improving food resource management strategies. Furthermore, the collected data emphasise the importance of considering regional specifics for effective humanitarian planning and the economic recovery of communities