Humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees in the Republic of Moldova

Within the last months, the situation in the Ukraine has escalated due to the conflict with the Russian Federation. The entire territory of the Ukraine is under attack by the Russian army and thousands of victims are registered every day. Many people are therefore fleeing to Western Europe or the neighbouring Republic of Moldova.

This humanitarian project provides emergency aid for refugees from the Ukraine who are seeking protection in the Republic of Moldova. It is implemented by HOPE’87 together with its partners RTL – Wir helfen Kindern, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, the Rotary Club, “ZF hilft” and the YOU Foundation – Education for Children in Need in order to help children and women in need as well as the elderly who have been forced to leave their homes in the Ukraine for fear of their lives.

So far, more than 180,000 people have already entered the Republic of Moldova. Often people are on foot and have only a few personal belongings with them. Due to compulsory military service for men between the age of 18 and 55, only women with children and the elderly come – two extremely vulnerable groups in immediate need of help. These people have basic needs and need emergency medical care. Therefore, an immediate relief effort has been launched, providing accommodation and food as well as baby products such as baby food, diapers, baby oil, etc., daily necessities such as pharmacy items, newspapers, phone card, internet access, books and school supplies, etc. and personal hygiene products such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, sanitary napkins, etc.

If the war situation in the Ukraine goes on, a way must be found to continue to produce and buy basic food products at reduced prices in order to produce and buy basic food products in Moldova. As the Republic of Moldova, an agricultural country with low means of production, has only 3.7 million inhabitants, the refugees from the Ukraine who are in need of food represent an additional burden for an already weak agricultural production system. In this context, contacts are being established with local farmers and a coupon system is being developed that will allow refugees to buy food directly from producers without having to rely on costly distribution chains. Through this assistance, direct contacts will be established with local producers. The social project “Our Farm” with its approach to introduce modern and efficient farming techniques, especially among small farmers, which is supported by the YOU Foundation, will thus be able to supply and distribute food at fair prices. It will provide emergency assistance immediately in order to exclude any commercial dependency.