Melnyk, Hanna

Melnyk was 12 at the time of the famine. She was from a family of 4. Her sister was 5. Their mom died in August 1933 at 32. She had tried to hide some beans in a pot in the oven but the search brigade found them. Her father tried to hide some leftover rye in the oven, but it was also found—by the collective farm boss and the village head. They beat the father up and locked him in a cell at the police station for a week. He could not walk after that. She and her sister survived on mock food and weeds. On average 4-5 people died per household in their village. Every day, 25 -30 people were dying and their bodies were thrown in a pit or kahaty. Some were dying in the streets. She is still traumatized by the memory of her mother dying so young and how hard it was for her and her sister to survive.

Ukrainian transcription available.

• Letkivka, Trostianets raion, Vinnytsia oblast:
  Letkovka
  Vinnyts'ka, Ukraine
  

  Latitude: 48.52463 Longitude: 29.15651