28 February 2022
As tensions are escalating to unprecedented levels in Ukraine, the Ukrainian and Luxembourg Red Crosses maintain their assistance to vulnerable families living near the front line, providing them with basic essential items such as coal or water.
The recent deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine has put essential services at risk of total disruption. While damaged infrastructures urgently need repairs, more than one million people in eastern Ukraine do not have access to drinking water anymore.
” Together with the Ukrainian Red Cross, the Luxembourg Red Cross has been supporting the civilian population since many years in Donetsk, but we have never witnessed such a dramatic situation. We are very worried but we will carry on and even step up our aid. ”
says Vladimir Petrov, Head of mission of the Luxembourg Red Cross.
In the past months, the teams headed by Petrov have rebuilt local healthcare centers in Donetsk, in order to cope with the needs of the families leaving near the frontlines, who could not access the health care needed. “ We have joined forces with the Ukrainian Red Cross and other Red Cross national societies to upgrade our humanitarian response.” he continues. “The Luxembourg Red Cross teams rapidly started an emergency project to provide those who need it most with coal to heat their homes.” adds Myriam Jacoby, who coordinates the Ukraine program from the Luxembourg headquarters.
“The neutrality and the impartiality of the Red Cross and our operational experience in Ukraine allow us to pursue and step up our work in a context that obliges other actors to retire from the field, making our involvement even more essential.”