612 hostel beds, 374 people to the border, relief for refugees

Because of our longstanding presence and work in Ukraine, Care in Action is uniquely positioned to continue to provide urgently needed food, shelter and transportation to the growing influx of refugees in Lviv.  Thanks to your donations, we have been able to hire two more temporary members of staff to expand our operations in assisting mothers and children fleeing the war zones.  An update of our activities follows:

• Over the past 10 days we have provided 612 hostel beds, often shared between mothers and babies or young children; this helps to significantly reduce the number of those sleeping outside as they arrive in Lviv.

• In the past week we have transported 374 people from Lviv to the border, while helping to ease the trauma and health risks for mothers and children, who have lost their homes. 

• Our team was very happy to source mattresses and bedding for a college, which has become a refugee shelter. On Saturday we managed to collect a large supply of medicines, baby food and other essentials which will quickly be distributed to where they are most needed.

• The individual stories are distressingly similar but we find hope in the practical support we can provide:  A mother with four children (including 7-month old baby Polina) unsure of her destination and ability to cope with the border crossing; we assisted her with baby supplies and transport, and connected her with a Polish volunteer who met her at the border; we were relieved to hear she had arrived safely in the Netherlands days later.  We paid the transport costs for another family traveling with a child with cerebral palsy to get their destination in Prague.  A mother travelling with her teenager and toddler, whose home was shelled in Kharkiv, told our team,

“I just hope other Ukrainian children do not see what we experienced on our way here…”  

• Looking ahead, we are working to find ways to get essential medicines, which are not currently available to organisations caring for children, including those with disabilities. Also, food for refugee camps is an issue, and they are asking for staples like rice, oil and buckwheat, so we are purchasing supplies. There are also concerns that soon foster families, who care for up to 10 children, will soon have trouble buying food because some grocery shops are empty. So bulk food stocks will be one of our priorities, especially for foster families caring for children in Ukraine.

 Our team in Lviv continues to develop our networks to find the right aid which will help families and children.  Again, our advantageous on-the-ground presence, strong team and local partnerships allow us to quickly respond to requests for aid and support.  We are responsive and continue to adjust to rising demand for help as quickly and effectively as possible.  

Thank you to every person who donates, and makes it possible for us to deliver direct aid to refugees in Lviv. The city is changing, with crowds of refugees, and with some streets now barricaded. Thank you for bringing hope and relief through your support as this crisis deepens.

This video shows a short interview with a mother from Kharkiv who sheltered at our hostel with her two children. She expresses her thanks to everyone at Care in Action for their help and support.