Aid to refugees from southeast Ukraine in Russia

In summer 2016, the aid to refugees from southeast Ukraine in the Russian frontier regions continued. The emergency aid program for the refugees who stand in the greatest need was organized in the Belgorod region under the aegis of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and with the support of the international Christian alliance 'Action by Churches Together', and implemented by the Russia Round Table. This project became a continuation of the long-standing cooperation in emergency relief to victims of various emergencies in Russia and abroad, including Ukrainian refugees in 2015. The Round Table's newsletter regularly informed its readers about this work.

In July 2016, aid was given to 1960 people in the cities of Belgorod, Valuiki, Gubkin and adjacent areas in the Belgorod Region. They received complex individual sanitary kits and hygiene sets for infants and women. As part of the project, parishes of the Belgorod Metropolia supported the work for psychological aid to victims, first of all children.

The preparation of lists of beneficiaries of the aid and its distribution were carried out in close cooperation with the authorized structures of the Belgorod Metropolia and in coordination with the Department of Church Charity and Social Service.

It is necessary to note that from the very beginning of the armed confrontation in southeast Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church has not stopped her efforts for giving aid to the affected civilians in the very conflict zone, as well as to those who had to leave their homes and found refuge in various regions of Ukraine and Russia. At present, there are almost three million refugees and displaced people from the conflict zone staying in these regions. The Department for External Church Relations and the Russia Round Table implemented in 2015 several initiatives for giving aid to Ukrainian refugees with the help of inter-church partners: Action by Churches Together, the Samaritan's Purse and the Bully Graham Evangelistic Association.

The newsletter of the Russia Round Table will continue informing its readers about humanitarian relief for victims of emergency situations.