Inside Humanitarian Logistics in Ukraine | Humanitarian supply chain

When a crisis forces people from their homes, getting aid across a border is only the beginning. The real challenge is ensuring the right supplies reach the right people, that local organizations have the support to keep going, and that communities are not forgotten when the news cycle moves on.

In this episode, hosts Enrique Alvarez and Kristi Porter speak with Hayley Smith, founder and director of Lifting Hands International, and Ihor Tereshchenko, the organization’s Ukraine director. Together, they offer a firsthand look at the realities of humanitarian logistics, from coordinating emergency shipments to supporting displaced families living through prolonged conflict.

Hayley’s journey into humanitarian work began with a difficult experience at a refugee camp in Greece. When people who had survived a dangerous sea crossing arrived in freezing conditions, she was asked to help distribute clothing from boxes of donated items. What she found was a collection of unsuitable supplies, including items people could not use when they urgently needed warm clothing. The experience left her questioning why humanitarian aid was so poorly organized and inspired her to establish Lifting Hands International. Her goal was straightforward: send clearly labeled shipments containing items that people actually need.

That principle remains central to Lifting Hands International’s approach. Hayley explains how the organization works with local partners to identify needs, prepare organized shipments, coordinate transportation, and ensure supplies are distributed where they can make a difference. Rather than simply sending aid across a border and hoping it reaches the intended recipients, the team vets distribution partners, stays in regular contact with them, and works with shipping organizations to manage transportation and customs. The result is a more coordinated process that reduces unnecessary waste and helps local teams deliver aid effectively.

The conversation then turns to Ukraine, where Ehor’s experience brings the realities of humanitarian work into sharp focus. Before joining Lifting Hands International, he worked in labor rights and Ukrainian public service, including a program helping businesses relocate from areas affected by Russian attacks. As the war continued, he wanted to work more directly with people experiencing its consequences. Today, he helps coordinate humanitarian programs and aid distribution in Ukraine, including support for communities close to the front lines.

Ihor describes what daily life looks like when air raid alerts, missile attacks, blackouts, and disrupted routines are part of the working day. Even ordinary tasks, such as taking a child to kindergarten or attending a meeting, can be interrupted by the need to seek safety. His account highlights the resilience and adaptability required to continue delivering assistance while navigating the same uncertainty and danger faced by the people receiving it.

Hayley also explains why humanitarian response must extend beyond food, clothing, and shelter. Conflict and displacement take a serious toll on mental health, particularly for children, families, and first responders who experience repeated trauma. Lifting Hands International works with local organizations and trained professionals to provide psychological first aid, trauma-informed activities, and community spaces where people can feel supported. These services recognize that meeting immediate physical needs is essential, but helping people cope, reconnect, and recover matters too.

Another important theme is the challenge of sustaining humanitarian programs over time. Hayley has seen how organizations can arrive during a crisis, establish valuable services, and then disappear when funding runs out. For people who depend on those services, the loss can be devastating. She encourages donors to think beyond the latest emergency and support programs consistently, especially in refugee camps and displaced communities where needs can persist for years or decades.

The episode also explores the value of community-based aid. From women’s shelters and community centers in Ukraine to partnerships supporting displaced people in other countries, Lifting Hands International works with people who understand local needs, languages, and circumstances. Hayley emphasizes that effective humanitarian work depends on trust, collaboration, accountability, and the knowledge of people already on the ground.