Everyday life

Everyday life continues in Odessa despite last night’s cruise missiles and the fire upon and reported sinking of a Russian supply ship off the coast close to the Romanian border.

This morning I was looking at women and girl’s safety. There are the reports of sexual violence in the contested areas where there is active fighting, but also the issue of a society becoming highly militarised, where hyper aggressive masculinity is being promoted and small arms have been given out in an uncontrolled way largely to men. Some men with military training have been released from prison, and there are gangs and organised criminals operating. Under martial law gender-based violence is not a priority unless it is conflict-related sexual violence. Oh and the traffickers have not gone away either. This is not an easy place to be a woman or teenage girl right now.

It’s 10pm - fingers crossed for a peaceful night. My grab bag and shoes are by the door just in case…

22.14 - back in the shelter… I definitely jinxed that!