Currently, Europe has to deal with a constantly growing humanitarian crisis due to the conflict in the east of Ukraine. The local partner organisations of the H. Stepic CEE Charity, Lugansk Regional Charitable Foundation “Teenager” together with the Ukrainian Christian Mission of Revival and the Charity “Good Samaritan”, therefore built a refugee camp in the city of Vinniky, which is situated near Lviv, far from the disputed areas of eastern Ukraine. 200 refugees of the regions Lugansk, Donetsk and Mariupol – most of them women and children – had to leave everything behind: their houses and apartments, their cars, possessions and sometimes, because of the hasty escape, even the little money that they had.
An old military station, which has been serving for five years as a summer camp is now the home of ca. 200 refugees. The premises of the camp are in terrible condition and in desperate need of renovation. The power and heating systems are barely functioning. The Charity decided to take over the costs for the much needed renovation and purchase of new parts for the power system, so that the women and children, residing at the camp can live through the severe Ukrainian winter. In order to at least slightly alleviate the hardship of the people, the board of the H. Stepic CEE Charity decided to support the refugee camp through emergency aid in the form of a generous donation.
“Thanks to our emergency aid we can reach the people that need our help the most. The refugees of the disputed areas in eastern Ukraine had to undergo traumatic experiences. We support the refugee camp in Vinniky, so that the refugees can survive the winter months without harm. For us it is self-evident, to provide this help in order to support the Ukraine and its people. Because of our presence in the country we feel very closely connected with the local people”, said Peter Lennkh, board member of Raiffeisen Bank International and of the Charity.
Already in 2013, the Charity supported Belarus with emergency aid during a massive cold spell. In order to correspond to the principle of helping people in need immediately, fast and unbureaucratically, the Charity also this time intervenes to help the refugees in need during the harsh winter months.
