Sergei Buntovsky: What kind of humanitarian assistance does Donbass need?
People from the war zone in Donbass cannot hope for help from the Ukrainian state for obvious reasons. Therefore, since the beginning of the protests in the region, a collection of aid has been launched for all those in need. The process intensified after the start of active “anti-terrorist” actions by the security forces. Dozens of people and organizations collect assistance locally, which they then distribute to their destination.
Recently, the DPR government tried to regulate this chaotic and uncontrollable process by banning all other structures from collecting humanitarian aid from the population. This decision was justified by the need to stop misuse of funds and make distribution more rational.
However, despite this, various organizations continue to deal with humanitarian issues, each of which has already developed its own circle of “donors” and “supporters.”
As one of my businessman acquaintances explained: “I know who I give what to, and where the things I buy will go.” However, many are not interested in the further fate of their donations and simply bring them to the building of the regional council or the SBU, so that local activists can figure out what to send where. This is exactly what Makeyevka artist Vladimir does, who has already donated money to the needs of the DPR several times. “I don’t know where they will go. They may even be stolen, but I do what I can. The Lord himself will determine where to send them,” he says.
Now Donetsk residents regularly bring medicine, food and things to the Regional Council, but because of the fighting, too many people need help. Therefore, activists are asking for support from area residents. At the same time, all the volunteers with whom we spoke ask us not to bring cash.
According to activists of one of the public organizations, the coordination center for humanitarian issues created in the DPR does not always have information from each specific location. Therefore, social activists are forced to take on the collection and distribution of things themselves.
“Information has been received - we are looking into it. A man called us and said that seven children were wounded in Slavyansk and we needed help. We made a cry on the Internet, collected and using our transport will transport all the humanitarian aid to these children,” my interlocutor gave an example.
And it’s hard to disagree with this position. Targeted work with each person who applies allows us to better help him, but requires a huge investment of time. Therefore, as a rule, social activists provide high-quality assistance to a limited circle of people: those who personally apply, people they know, or people recommended by friends.
But the officials of the young republic work more systematically. According to one of the employees of the Ministry of Social Policy of the DPR, Elena, all aid received by the republic is initially accumulated and sent to a warehouse, from where it is then centrally distributed among those in need. For example, hospital doctors make a list of necessary medications. Based on this request, activists collect the necessary medicines and hand them over to doctors. The same principle is used to work with orphanages located in the conflict zone.
All the assistance Donbass needs can be divided into three large groups depending on the recipients. Firstly, these are medicines for the wounded in the combat zone. Secondly, this is equipment and food for militia units. And thirdly, this is assistance to refugees and other civilians.
According to participants in the events, the most needed medications now are: painkillers and hemostatic agents, antibiotics, insulin, suture material and dressings. In addition, due to the huge number of victims in Donbass, there is a shortage of qualified doctors, so the help of volunteers from other regions is needed.
Also, both militias and refugees need food, and they need to choose products with a long shelf life. For example, canned food, cereals or sugar. Since people often left dangerous areas without preparation, children's clothing and linen, as well as toys, books and leisure equipment, will come in handy. The little ones need diapers and care products for newborns... Given the hot weather, there is a great need for drinking water at checkpoints and hot spots.
A separate complex issue is the equipment of the militias. Contrary to information from the Ukrainian media about the excellent weapons and training of the fighters of the people’s republics, many of them serve with virtually no necessary means of protection, much less communications. It is clear that the equipment is not exactly humanitarian aid, but many residents of the region were not happy with the situation in which the defenders of the region went into battle with hunting double-barreled guns and in only camouflage without helmets and body armor. Therefore, those who have such an opportunity secretly help the fighters they know to equip themselves. Although, this is not a mass phenomenon.
Of course, there is an acute shortage of humanitarian supplies in places of hostilities. However, according to representatives of the Donbass People's Militia, delivering them there is becoming increasingly difficult. Ukrainian units manning checkpoints around Slavyansk regularly fire at aid vehicles. Last week, they shot at a bus that was carrying medicine to the city and was supposed to take children out on the way back. According to one of the leaders of the Novorossiya party, “Ukrainian soldiers at checkpoints are often drunk, they shoot at everything that moves, so excesses constantly occur.” So, if a month ago it was possible to come to an agreement with the ATO participants at the posts, now we have to look for detours so as not to collide with the National Guardsmen at all.
Let's hope that soon the situation in the region will stabilize and there will be no need to collect assistance, but now the residents of Donbass are in dire need of support. Thank God that so many people from Eastern Ukraine, Crimea, Russia, Europe and the republics of the former USSR responded to the call for help. It’s only a pity that those Kyiv politicians who talk about a united Ukraine from high stands did not lift a finger to save the inhabitants of our region, which they are trying to keep as part of their country.
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