Samaritans provide winter aid to IDPs in Ukraine

In November, ASB Germany launched a winter aid project in Ukraine which will provide Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with food, hygiene products, winterproof clothing and equipment until February.

According to UN more than 450.000 people have fled their homes in eastern Ukraine and Crimea coming to other regions of the country. „Many of the so called internally displaced people now live in collected housings, with no winterproof accomodation, no winterproof clothing and without medical care”, SAM.I. Secretary General Christian Reuter explains. To help these people ASB Germany, with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office, started a project focused on winterization.

The project will be implemented in the regions of Kiev, Poltava and Kharkiv together with the Samaritan organisation of the Ukraine (SSU). With the onset of winter the humanitarian situation of the IDPs becomes even more problematic. Among other things the relief efforts focus on providing 1.000 IDPs with winter jackets and boots, gloves, hats, scarfs and socks. From November 2014 to February 2015 another 3.000 persons will be provided with food and hygiene products. In addition, they will get food kits with non-perishable food such as rice, noodles or canned food on a monthly basis. The hygiene kits include among other things detergent, toiletries and diapers.

For another 500 IDPs safe and winter-proof housing will be rented. Furthermore the project will guarantee  basic medical care in the shared accomodations. The project especially addresses IDPs from vulnerable groups such as for example women with children, unaccompanied minors, elderly people, people with disabilities and people with chronic diseases.