Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Austrians have donated 56 million euros to the aid campaign “Neighbors in Need – Help for Ukraine”. The federal government has increased the donations with resources from the foreign disaster fund to 98 million euros.
This was announced by the Secretary General of the Vienna Red Cross, Michael Opriesnig, during a press conference on Wednesday. The relief operation had begun on the day of the attack. So far, according to “Buurman in Nood”, 495,000 people have been supported with hygiene packages and 385,000 with food. In addition, emergency shelters have been provided and many people have received psychosocial assistance.
The situation for the elderly and children in Ukraine is particularly dramatic, said Andreas Knapp, general secretary of Caritas. Many elderly people are alone, “the sons in the war, the daughters fled abroad with their children.” Self-sufficiency gardens could no longer be maintained. The aid organizations say they have created spaces for children where they are in a safe environment and where particularly serious traumas can be recognized at an early stage.
Many lost their jobs
Adults in Ukraine have often lost their jobs and therefore no income. “That’s why we rely on ‘cash assistance’ so that people can decide for themselves what to buy. That also helps the economy in the country,” says Opriesnig. In the winter, the donations are used to supply fuel.
Cleared forests would make collecting wood impossible. In addition, roofs and windows should be repaired in time for the winter. According to the government in Kiev, 65 percent of the infrastructure is still intact, including central cogeneration plants.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than five million people are displaced within Ukraine. As of August 4, 2023, more than 8.2 million were living as refugees in European countries. “Neighbours in Need” was founded in 1992 on the initiative of the ORF together with Caritas and the Red Cross to help the then distressed population in Yugoslavia.
Source: Krone
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