As Jews in Ukraine celebrated the first two days of Sukkot, devastating drone strikes on Kyiv hit a 16-story apartment building, nursery school, business centers, and a warehouse. The attacks killed seven people, including a 14-year-old boy, and injured dozens more. Other parts of the country were also targeted, damaging a postal facility in Odessa, a medical clinic in Eastern Ukraine, and fuel stations and railway networks elsewhere.
The relentless attacks over the past couple of months have had a dramatic impact on the residents of Ukraine. Strikes occur at all times of day and night, disrupting daily life including school and work. Most troubling is the reality that winter is just around the corner, bringing dangerously cold weather. Last year, thousands of people fled Kyiv for weeks on end, and those who remained in the city endured life-threatening conditions, particularly the elderly and infirm.
We have been busy over the past several months helping residents prepare for winter and trying to allay their concerns. The damage to infrastructure and energy facilities are expect to once again create difficult conditions, with widespread power outages and disrupted water supplies. Large scale industrial generators will be needed to power community centers and schools, and smaller battery packs for personal will be essential for survival. Additionally, bomb shelters must remain fully stocked and equipped, in residential and public buildings.
Our emergency humanitarian aid program will continue to provide critical support to tens of thousands of Jews in Ukraine, including food, clothing, shelter, medicine, medical care and more. We will provide fuel and maintenance for the large generators we installed, and we will distribute thermoses, blankets, batteries, and flashlights for families.
We are grateful for the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers, and the generous donors who make it possible. Together we save lives and restore hope.
