In Kyiv, 650 high-rise apartment buildings once again have heat, thanks to the efforts of local utility workers. But, more than three times that many buildings remain without utilities, leaving thousands of people in the cold and dark. In all, 16% of the roughly 12,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv are (delete "largely") uninhabitable given the frigid winter weather (delete last clause).
With no end in sight to the continued air attacks and freezing temperatures, the Mayor of Kyiv has been urging residents to leave the city if they can. As of earlier this week, more than 600,000 people have temporarily relocated (out of a total population of approximately 3.6 million).
In other parts of the country, conditions aren’t much better. Earlier in the winter, the government was often able to provide residents with schedules of power outages which, while extremely difficult, allowed families to prepare for meals and other activities. But as the attacks have intensified, utilities shut off with no warning and sometimes remain off for days on end. To make matters worse, Europe is experiencing one of the coldest winters in recent history; the lack of heat and water threatens the lives of vulnerable populations such as the very young and very old.
We are continuing our emergency humanitarian aid to help the people of Ukraine. Specifically, we are providing fuel for the large generators we installed at Jewish community centers, schools, and synagogues, creating shelters for local residents. Families come for heat, warm meals, and safety. In addition, we are supplying gas for heaters and wood to individuals and families, along with food, water, and other essential items. Our leaders, staff, and volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure that every Jew in Ukraine knows they are not alone and not forgotten. Together we save lives and restore hope.
Photos courtesy of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine
