“When an airplane flies over us, the children run to the windows. And they say to each other, 'Whose is it? Ah, okay, it's Ukrainian.' Even the youngest children unfortunately understand a little of what is happening around them,” say the Salesians.
As the third week of the war draws to a close, the situation in Ukraine is becoming increasingly painful for many people. The Salesians, all of them, remain firmly at the side of the needy and, supported by international solidarity, continue to resist, to give hope, relief, comfort and every kind of help to those in need.
The solidarity fund set up by the Salesian Coordination for the response to the emergency in Ukraine continues to receive donations from all over the world: donations have recently arrived from Thailand and Hong Kong, from Cambodia, Portugal and the Province of Western Francophone Africa (AFO). Sometimes they are large sums of money, sometimes smaller donations, but like so many drops of water they all go together to form a sea of good that translates into concrete and tangible help for those who are now left with just the clothes on their backs and little else.
The Salesian Provinces of Brazil have started a campaign in favor of the Ukrainian population. Don Bosco Mission Bonn is receiving a large quantity of medicines from "Action Medeor", the largest medical aid organization in Europe, which operates as the "emergency pharmacy of the world". Thanks to the direct connections always maintained with the Ukrainian and Polish Salesians, the medicines and medical devices can be delivered directly to Ukraine.
As well as food aid: the Salesians of Krakow sent a new load of food to Kiev yesterday.
In addition to the much-needed help to those who have remained in Ukraine, the work of welcoming refugees in various countries is also being renewed. The 48 people - women and children - picked up in a minibus by the Don Bosco 2000 Association, in collaboration with the Italy-Sicily Province (ISI) have arrived at their destination. The first photos taken of them on Italian soil convey the image of faces that are tired and frightened, but still capable of sketching a smile.
It should also be underlined that several Salesian realities are receiving requests for further information and offers of donations from people and entities with whom they were not in contact before: a sign that the good work done, together with the high attention to communication on the good done, are bearing fruit.
Finally, while the work of accompanying and welcoming refugees continues at full speed, the Salesians are also raising the alarm raised by various NGOs active on the borders of Ukraine regarding the risks of human trafficking by unscrupulous individuals and organizations.
