By Joseph Nichols, Organizer
A record number of attacks were logged last night over a large area of Ukraine. At the front, Russia has been slowly shifting from a defensive posture to an offensive one, with missile, drone, and rocket attacks against energy and fuel infrastructure significantly on the increase.
In the rural villages along the front the number of civilians that want to be evacuated has been increasing too. Most of the remaining residents are those that wanted to stay to protect their rights to long held family farms and shops, and those that just didn’t have a place to go or the money to live in more expensive western regions. As millions of people moved to safer areas when the war began, housing costs increased dramatically. For many older and poorer people, the increase was prohibitive and moving was just not possible.
The government has been converting older buildings for this next wave of IDP’s (Internally Displaced People) in cities and towns away from the conflict zones, and it is now the “Pensioners” and poor that must pack their life into one bag and leave. Another winter with no electric and no public transport is untenable.
When our supply deliveries are made to local distribution points, we have always taken on passengers wanting to move to family or friends in safer regions. This number has been growing with each delivery, and we have been hiring transport/drivers to help with this increase. One person – one bag. Local police travel with us to help explain to the pensioners that we are not “bandits” waiting to take their property when they leave. Often we help with closing up windows and preparing the homes to be empty for the winter.
For many of our passengers, this will be the last time they see their home.
We always make sure there is someone waiting at the end of the travel, and that a local official knows that the newly arrived travelers have a new residence so that pension payments and medical care are delivered.
This whole process takes time, patience, more patience, and money. Care4Ukraine.Org is a family support charity that has been in Ukraine since 2015. Our volunteers have years of experience, and we have great support from our local drivers and community representatives. We deliver medical and hygiene supplies, food, first-aid kits, and school supplies on a regular schedule to the more remote areas of Ukraine.
Now, about that money part……………
Thank you all for your support!
https://care4ukraine.org