• Ukrainian Salvos deliver aid
Salvationists and volunteers in Ukraine recently visited the village of Gorenka and delivered clothes, food and hygiene products provided by the France and Belgium Territory.
The team regularly visits this village. The families who live there have been displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, or have seen their homes there destroyed. They are housed in temporary accommodation blocks where they share bathroom, kitchen and other facilities.
“Visiting residents is always a tear-breaking moment, as these people share their stories of living without electricity, water, gas and heating in their apartments in extreme winter conditions before the temporary accommodation was built,” says Major Kostiantyn Shvab, Ukraine Divisional Commander.
“Currently, residents in Gorenka village live in severe need of everything – food, clothes, shoes, hygiene products and more. The Salvation Army in Ukraine provides help and support to those are who in need and it relies on help that comes from other countries. The Ukraine Division is completely sure that the number of its supporters around the globe will grow and the range of help that can be provided will dramatically increase.
“Gorenka village is physically severely destroyed, but because of the residents, it feels alive! However, all the residents are asking – What will happen next? When their homes be rebuilt and when their children will stop experiencing the horror of war?”
Extremely heavy fighting took place in and around Gorenka early in the war, with citizens being evacuated on 5 March. They were allowed to return on 14 April.
“It was a very big stress for them to see their homes destroyed and the belongings they had to leave, burned,” said Kostiantyn. “Most of the village residents lost everything they owned.”
According to the United Nations, 1200 houses have been destroyed in Gorenka since the war began – approximately 80 per cent of the village.
The Ukraine Division of The Salvation Army is part of the Eastern Europe Territory.
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