“…the temperatures will plummet to -20'c. Frequent blackouts means people's boilers don't work. We get light for 1-2 hours a day. The whole house is damp and it never gets warm. Many people living here do not have warm, winter clothes. Their homes have no heating either, so life is very hard and difficult."
(Pastor Slavic)
The war has forced millions of Ukrainians to make difficult decisions about whether to stay to face the Russian onslaught or leave their homes for the unknown. Although refugees travelling to other countries have dominated the headlines, many have chosen to remain within the country, which not only requires finding and getting to alternative accommodation, but also facing the bitterly cold winter in houses without power.
Like many other parts of western Ukraine, the area around Berezhany has experienced a major influx of people, many of whom arrived both homeless and traumatised. They include refugees like the B* family from Polohy in the Zaporizhzhia region. The mother travelled with eight of her children – four of whom are very young - as her husband and oldest son had to stay behind to fight in the armed forces. She was joined in the house in Berezhany by her sister’s family, as well as another mother who had travelled with a disabled relative.
It is vulnerable people like these that have been helped by the network of Christian leaders supported by Innovista. The Church of the Transfiguration in Berezhany is one of many that is working hard to meet the needs of almost 100 refugees in their community, by providing transport and accommodation, as well as urgently required supplies. A recent grant from Innovista funded the purchase of 40 cubic metres of firewood, which was delivered to enable twelve families to heat their homes over the winter (see video).
Innovista is continuing to support those who need it the most in Ukraine and has so far given over 100 grants that have provided everything from food and medicine, to tyres and generators. If you would like to help vulnerable refugees in the country, you can donate here.
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Their name has not been disclosed for safety reasons.
