Our humanitarian aid activities in Romania are based in Dorohoi which is just 15 miles from the border with Ukraine at its nearest point; the official crossing points are further away but still within easy reach. Our help for refugees is provided through two principal initiatives.
Many refugees have arrived with only what they could carry. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of many people in the UK we have a stock of clothing, knitwear and bedding left after the winter, and we have been able to share items with those who are providing front line relief.
To help the refugees, we have made available our facilities at Casa Neemia, which is our house for homeless persons. With the co-operation of our existing residents at Casa Neemia, our team led by Beni has been able to make overnight accommodation available to new arrivals. We can offer a warm welcome, a quiet room, hot meals and, if necessary, a tankful of fuel to help them on their journey. Casa Neemia has witnessed an ever increasing stream of needy families fleeing from the atrocities of war, almost all women and children as their menfolk are expected to stay and defend their homeland against an unprovoked attack.
This is putting much pressure on the team in Dorohoi in their attempt to not turn anyone away but to try to offer sanctuary and provide food, drinks and accommodation much needed after a long and difficult journey to get through the border and out of their dangerous circumstances. Due to the generous donations and ongoing support from UK we are able so far to offer food and clothes to many of these families.
However, our capacity to help is limited, primarily by space constraints. To increase the capacity for accommodation and provide basic sleeping, toilet and bathing facilities an offer of substantial funds was made to help convert the upper floor at Casa Neemia and make the offer of provision of a safe haven to many more refugees.
With urgency in these exceptional and unforeseen circumstances the work is already underway, with Beni’s supervision and, with further financial support, this project could be completed VERY QUICKLY in order to provide basic amenities to ease the plight of the increasing number of innocent people as they flee from their homeland, not knowing where to go. Once rested and refreshed most of the refugees prefer to head towards established Ukrainian communities further west. For them, the journey is now a little easier but every day more people come asking for help.
Your support to make this continued help possible will be greatly appreciated. We will provide updates as the situation unfolds. For information please contact Bernard Bellingham on 07784 729358 or, in south Wales, Richard Burgess on 07768 044556.
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