Ukraine – Hunger and cold, with winter just around the corner: Ukrainian people need help

31 October 2022

(ANS - Kyiv) - It is an even darker-than-usual cold season that the millions of Ukrainian citizens still in their country are about to face, victims of brutal aggression for 249 days now. This year, in fact, for many of them there will not be enough food or heating. With the war, so many have lost jobs, homes, property, as well as family, friends, and enthusiasm. From the Salesian Coordination for Emergency Management in Ukraine comes a report on the current state of the population, what is being done, and what will need to be done.

Currently, the situation in Ukraine is worsening. Throughout the past week, Ukrainian cities have been bombarded by numerous kamikaze drones. Non-combatant civilians have to survive without electricity and water for days; many of them have lost contact with family and friends because communication towers have been destroyed. For this, there is now an urgent need for electric generators, warm clothes, portable stoves.

The Ukrainian population is also in great need of places to keep warm. Many people have lost everything: some have lost their jobs and, with it, any ability to provide for their basic needs; many are starving. Civilians have lost their homes. Now they have to get through the cold Ukrainian winter, which has just begun.

Educationally, children and youth will not have it easy either: as many schools and educational centers were destroyed or seriously damaged, many students have had to switch to online learning, which is usually of lower quality because of fewer opportunities for communication and interaction with teachers and friends.

"Ukrainian civilians need humanitarian aid of all kinds, including social assistance. We should do everything we can: start with prayer and end with material support," testifies Daniel Kotvytskyi, of the Ukraine Emergency Coordination Team.

Together with other members of the same team, he too delivered humanitarian aid in the form of food, children's winter boots, diapers, and hygiene products on the days between October 14 and 16. The Warsaw Emergency Coordination Team took them to children housed in the "Sonechko" Children's Home in Żurawno and the Children's Hospital in Lviv.

"This expedition was made possible thanks to our generous benefactors from South Korea, Canada, and Australia. Since the beginning of the war, thanks to the support of the Salesian Family around the world, we are able to help where it is most needed."

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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