Emergency Relief for the Crisis in Ukraine

Thanks to your generous support, we are continuing our relief efforts in Ukraine and Hungary.

Záhony city, a transit point for refugees

Thus far, we have been carrying out our activities in refugee accommodation facilities in Máriapocs village, Hungary, and throughout the Zakarpattia oblast, Ukraine. In addition to this, we began providing assistance in Záhony, Hungary in November of last year.

Záhony city has the closest Hungarian train station to the Ukrainian border. This means that all refugees entering Hungary by train from Ukraine pass through this Záhony station. Most of the refugees travel from this Záhony station to the capital Budapest or other western countries.

Záhony is also where many adult men who cannot return to Ukraine for fear of mobilization for military service are briefly reunited with family members they have left behind in Ukraine.

Research at Záhony station

When we visited in March, shortly after the war broke out, Záhony station was well served by several international aid organizations (UN, NGOs, and volunteers). However, when we visited again in November, most of the international aid groups had withdrawn. When we asked the station staff how the situation was, he connected us with the station manager and the mayor, and we were able to speak directly with the mayor.

According to the mayor, most of the aid groups withdrew in September, and we learned that the city has been the main source of support since October. He told us that the city was operating a container that it had taken over from the UN and a temporary accommodation using a closed elementary school. The container is a temporary place to wait until the train to change will arrive. Tables and chairs, transfer information, space for children, and refreshments were provided.

Overnight accommodations are places to stay if refugees are catching a train the next day or several days later. Bed, shower room, laundry area, children's playroom, and community space were built in an abandoned elementary school, and clothing and meals were provided. Both containers and accommodations are staffed by the city budget, and refugees who visit receive these services free of charge.

Shortage of Supplies Due to Declining Donations

However, due to the decrease in donations (withdrawal of aid organizations), a shortage of supplies had become an issue. There are nine trains a day from Ukraine, sometimes with approximately 300 refugees on each train, and the city's budget alone did not seem to be sufficient to provide adequate assistance to all users.

Therefore, we have decided to provide material support from November 2022. We have been delivering snacks, soups, towels, pet food, and so on around two to three times a month. We especially delivered about 200 towels this month, as we heard that the towels were about to run out. We realize that it is important to provide continuous support especially now that society's interest has waned and donations are decreasing.

Links:

• Terra Renaissance's homepage; facebook