CCRF brings aid to Krasnodon (07/16/00)

CCRF brings aid to Krasnodon

SHORT HILLS, N.J. - Three tons of medication and hospital supplies arrived on May 11 at the Krasnodon Regional Central Hospital to aid the victims of the Barakov coal mine explosion that took place in March. Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund volunteer Lidia Welyczkowski, and CCRF Kyiv Office Director Pavlo Smyrnov delivered the humanitarian cargo valued at $108,000.

The CCRF representatives were warmly welcomed at a press conference at the hospital in Krasnodon. An official letter from the families of Barakov miners stated: "The directors of the coal mine, family and friends of the deceased are genuinely grateful to you for your empathy and compassion to the horrible disaster that struck our mine."

Ms. Welyczkowski expressed sympathy as she presented the donations: "We understand that especially at this time of tragedy, the hospital desperately needs a vast amount of effective medication. We are convinced that we're providing the cargo for reliable partners and that this aid will be provided to those who need it most."

An article in Luhanska Pravda, a local newspaper, titled "Where Compassion is Concerned, the Ocean is No Obstacle," expressed amazement at how promptly the cargo had arrived in Krasnodon from Kyiv. Hospital authorities were impressed to learn that the antibiotics, medicines and hospital supplies arrived from the capital in a record nine days, when cargo of similar size normally takes three months to arrive from Kyiv.

The next day, in personal meetings arranged by the local coal miners' union, Mrs. Welyczkowski and Mr. Smyrnov distributed direct cash grants and toys to each of the 80 widows and children of the deceased miners. These gifts were made possible by the generous donations of CCRF supporters in several cities throughout the United States. The CCRF noted that it is especially grateful to the parishioners of St. Mary's Protection Ukrainian Orthodox Church in New Haven, Conn., for offering the largest donation, over $1,500, to Krasnodon survivors.

The relief mission was staged by Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund in response to a request for much-needed supplies and medicine for survivors of the mining accident from Ukraine's Ministry of Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid.

Alex Kuzma, CCRF executive director, explained the link between this latest tragedy and the foundation's mission: "We can't forget that in 1986 hundreds of miners from this region were rushed to Chornobyl to dig shafts and pour lead and concrete beneath the melting reactor core, to protect the headwaters of the Dnipro River. These men risked their lives to safeguard the drinking water for millions of people living downstream. The least we can do is to aid their widows and orphans in the wake of this new tragedy."

Since 1989, the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund has delivered more than 1,300 tons of medical aid to Ukraine, valued at over $43 million. This was CCRF's 25th airlift.

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