Kiev, Kharkiv, Dnipro-Donetsk (Bakhmut-Slavansk), Ukraine, in August 2022
I’ve shipped the tourniquets donated by Mr. Hasegawa, Global-Dining Inc., and Mr. Taro, Turniquet.
Regarding the food situation, World Central Kitchen donates 90% of the food aid and 10% from World Food Programme, WFP, throughout Ukraine. Mainly carbohydrates are provided, thus other items need to be purchased on a case-by-case basis.
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) visits evacuation shelters for medical examinations and other services. I didn’t see any other major aid organizations. There seem to be a few medium-sized foreign volunteer groups are active. But most of active groups are small Ukrainian volunteer groups. All over-the-counter medicines are available in pharmacies. Gas stations are open up to 25 km before the front line.
The serious problem is the shortage of housing, advanced surgical equipment and medicines and so on. There is no residence for evacuees. Schools and other facilities are already in use.
In Kharkiv, there are daily indiscriminate attacks and evacuation shelters are also under attack. Many people have nowhere to refuge and are living in half collapsed buildings. There is no electricity and refugees concern about sanitary problems. In Dnipro, there is a considerable number of evacuation shelters operated by dozens of people on their own expense for evacuees from Donbass region. Those shelters are operated with donations from Ukrainians.
As I mentioned above, food aid is distributed by World Central Kitchen and WFP. Many people are still residing at the front line. And the infrastructure is stopped. Ukrainian volunteers regurally deliver supplies, but only as soon as the budget for gasoline and other supplies is collected.
Ukrainian volunteers regularly deliver supplies, but it seems that the activities will be carried out as soon as the budget for gasoline and etc. are collected. The price of gasoline is about the same as in Japan, but it is expensive considering the value of Ukrainian currency. In addition, there are several people who do not wish to evacuate, the percentage of elderly people is high.
As a continental and agricultural country, distribution in Ukraine is so well organized that it is hard to believe that it is wartime, and everything is sold in supermarkets. However, due to the sluggish economic activity, it is not easy for ordinary people to purchase goods. If you are considering volunteer support, it is cheaper to buy locally, considering transportation costs. The only way to purchase items that cannot be purchased in Ukraine is to transport them from abroad. Currently, the private sector is taking the lead in constructing a shelter with a capacity of 6,000 people in Ukraine jointly with 12 Western countries. Since Japan did not participate in the project, I took the initiative and told them that Japan would also participate. Each country will provide one million dollars. We will do our best to collect…
Unfortunately, Japan’s support has not been publicized at all.
I am sure you all know the reasons for this, so I will omit them, but the important thing is to deliver the goods directly to the local people, and if you do not clearly state this on the goods, they will be resold.
Drafting has also begun. Some women, including civil servants, will also be drafted into the military starting in October. Many of them are purchasing their own equipment at their own expense. The burden is heavy. In Japan, support for the military is critical, but Japan is the only country in the world that thinks that way. It is thanks to the military and international support that we have withstood the invasion for six months. In Ukraine, as in Bucha, civilians are being slaughtered without resistance. This is the reality. I felt again the influence of Russian propaganda. Japan also has the possibility of a Taiwan contingency. It may be time to rethink the way we think about the military.
Food warehouses are delivered to various places from here. In places without kitchen facilities, we will cook at a restaurant that is closed before delivery.
Injured child of evacuees from Donetsk. Since the bedroom is a private part, only one photo was taken. Basically, everyone uses container pallets as beds.
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