On the 24th of February 2022, Russia launched a military offensive into Ukraine, causing civilian casualties and destroying the country’s infrastructure. More than a quarter of the population has been forced to flee their homes. In the first few weeks, more than 4.3 million refugees fled Ukraine, and a second as many were internally displaced. It is the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II.
We cannot be indifferent to the suffering of our neighbours – we immediately set out to help!
02.03.2022
We have another long and intensive night of providing help behind us. Just like every day since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, we have been with the people in need in the border zone on the Ukrainian side. The queues at the crossings are getting noticeably shorter. However, this does not mean that the humanitarian situation is under control. There are fewer people waiting to cross, but the queues still stretch for miles, and there are freezing mothers and children in cars. It is not yet time for us to leave.
Several dozen litres of hot coffee and tea, energy bars, sandwiches, fruit puree for the youngest, blankets and something as simple as hot water so that, in the middle of the queue to the border, mothers can prepare formula milk for their youngest children. All of this goes to people who, more often than not, do not expect that anyone can help them out in their difficult situation as they wait in the freezing cold. That someone can bring them a bit of warmth.
We have noticed that, on the other side of the border, many people are very suspicious of us. People are afraid of swindlers, of whom they have met many during their flight from their homeland. There are taxi drivers in Lviv who are willing to take anyone to Przemyśl for just $300. There are also those who offer help, for which they later demand payment.
We often have to reassure those who have been waiting in line for hours that we only want to look after their health and safety. It is only when we manage to do so that we learn how great their needs are.
Returning from our rounds this morning, we were once again certain that we had been right where we were needed.
30.01.2024
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12.06.2023
To our questions about estimated casualty numbers, the most common answer is: “A lot! On both sides!”. Exactly how many no one knows, because getting aid to the occupied territories is like asking the aggressor for an open day in his trenches. On the 11th of June, the Russians fired on a boat with civilians […]
02.05.2023
What if this was your neighbourhood? If, between the billowing smoke, you spotted the ruins of the grocery store where you had shopped since you were a child? To which your mother would still send you with a list written in pencil on a piece of paper so you wouldn’t forget anything? Bachmut had more […]