URGENT APPEAL: Help Refugees Fleeing Bakhmut
THE SITUATION
“Ukraine steps up efforts to get civilians out of Bakhmut, in a further sign of a potential retreat.
Fewer than 5,000 residents remain in the eastern city, out of a prewar population of 70,000, as Russian forces close in.”
-New York Times (14 Feb)
All civilians and aid groups have been told to evacuate Bakhmut, a town that, until a few days ago, had over 6,000 people still living there. All of these people have been ordered by the Ukrainian military to leave, with nowhere to go they will be forced to sleep outside in well below freezing conditions.
Many refugees are fleeing to Konstantanivka , a town about 30 km from Bakhmut. However, there is no infrastructure here to support these people. The population in Konstantanivka have been cut off from power for many months and have been suffering from a lack of support themselves.
Fewer than 5,000 residents remain in the eastern city, out of a prewar population of 70,000, as Russian forces close in.
HOW OUR TEAM IS RESPONDING
Our local partner in Konstantanivka has offered us an old kindergarten to setup a shelter immediately, we need your help to get critical supplies to the support refugees who have already begun flowing into Konstantanivka. We will provide:
- Temporary shelter for up to 150 people including a bed to sleep in and three warm meals per day.
- Charging and connection station powered by a Starlink and a generator for people to connect with their families and, hopefully find somewhere further west to evacuate to.
- Washing station for people to clean their clothes and themselves after days of fleeing their homes.
- A clinic within the shelter to treat basic problems or refer them to more sophisticated medical facilities.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Your donation will go directly to support refugees fleeing the fighting in Bakhmut. We need to buy initial supplies such as beds, washing machines etc. as well as ongoing supplies such as food and cleaning supplies. Your support will save lives.