Since the conflict in Ukraine began, towns and villages in the west of the country find themselves hosting large numbers of internally displaced people – mostly the elderly, women and children – in whatever rooms they can find. Spare classrooms, barns and clinic waiting rooms are all pressed into service in communities which scarcely have enough resources for their own people.
Crossroads’ Ukrainian partner has, for many years, been working to bridge the gap between rapidly developing cities and rural communities that are among the poorest in Europe. In the past, we sent multiple shipments of items including hospital beds and equipment, school furniture, computers and electrical appliances that have been much used and well cared for. Now the need is even greater as much of the population has fled because of the war, heading for safer parts of Ukraine or over the border to Poland.
This will be the tenth shipment to our partners, sending more furniture, bedding, clothes, and toys to benefit the many displaced people now sharing the space of those already fighting poverty.
Providing warmth is an essential aim of anyone helping displaced people, and residents are shown here with items from the previous shipment.
Toys mean the world to children who have been torn from their homes, as families are unable to bring more than one or two suitcases with them. Creative play helps them adapt.
This shipment will contain many more toys and household necessities to help villages with few resources host their countrymen who have escaped from war-torn areas, as well as some medical equipment and furniture.
Older residents often find themselves confused and in need of help as they have been forced to flee from their lifelong homes and find safe shelter.
