Dear Friends,

All is quiet now and I though I'd take a moment to share the events of the last week from Transcarpathia, Ukraine.

Rakhiv sounds more like a war zone these days with all the helicopters and heavy equipment working non-stop to repair damage done by flooding of the Tysa River last week. As many of you may have heard, considerable damage was reported in Mukachevo, Chop, Hoost, Tyachiv, and Rakhiv. The local Red Cross estimates that in the Rakhiv District alone, 250 houses have been severely damaged, seven of which were actually swept away in the river.

Three people from our town died and one family are still missing. We've estimated that over 1,000 adults and 2,000 children in our region have been directly affected and are in need of warm clothing, food and household goods. Outside our district the numbers are even larger. However, getting aid to Rakhiv is difficult. Both roads, to Uzhgorod and to Ivano Frankivsk, are totally destroyed. The train is running sporadically due to severe damage to the tracks.

One shipment of aid arrived by train yesterday (flour, powdered milk, cheese, grains, and clothes) but most of the grains were soaking wet and the clothing was in poor condition. There's not much to buy in the stores these days, and hopes are that the road to Uzhgorod can be repaired within the next week. I spent some time there yesterday. A line of refugees was walking the now built up section of road, dodging bulldozers and military support. Most villages and some parts of Rakhiv are still without electricity, water, and heat. To make matters worse, snow started falling four >>days ago. Three main bridges are gone. My first apartment is under water. Thankfully I now live on the third floor!

My counterpart amazes me. Her house was under seven feet of water. They had time to save the pig and then her invalid father. The car, all kitchen appliances, and furniture in their house are covered in mud and water. She told me that in her heart she thought they should buy insurance, but they just couldn't afford it. They've lost most everything. Her brother and small dog (Beem) have to stake out the yard at night because people are stealing their apple trees. That's right. I couldn't exactly figure out why except that now the fence along the river is gone and since there's no heat people need wood to burn. She told all of this to me with a smile on her face. She even brought me a cabbage, some carrots and potatoes because she knew I might be having trouble buying food. She just lost everything and she brings me vegetables. That's why I love Ukraine.

Many people have expressed a wish to help us with our post flood efforts. What we really need, aside from a couple million dollars to repair the roads, bridges, and electrical plant, are warm clothes and household goods like sheets, blankets, pillows, etc. As for clothes, people really need warm jackets, hats, boots, socks, pants and shirts. Also, the hospital could use more bandages, syringes, crutches, x-ray film, antibiotics, etc.

For fellow Peace Corps Volunteers in Ukraine: Elizabeth in Uzhgorod suggested organizing a clothing drive in her school. I think this is a great idea and would encourage other volunteers to follow her lead. Perhaps collection points could be organized in Ivano Frankivsk and Uzghorod and then combined and sent to Rakhiv or other needy areas. Perhaps Elizabeth would agree to coordinate in Uzhgorod. Is there anyone in Frankivsk (or maybe Lviv) that could help out?

For my friends abroad, especially Rotary, please contact me if you think you may be able to send a shipment. Sometimes we have trouble with humanitarian aid packages at the border, but I'm working with the District Administration and we could arrange for clearance. I realize that the flood aftermath in Central America is far more devastating, but not to the families here who've lost everything.

Thanks to everyone for your concern and help. Just as long as the rain stops, I have no doubt we'll be able to pull together and rebuild our community.

All aid shipments should be sent to:

Carpathian Agency for Regional Development
1 Myru St.
Transcarpathia, Ukraine 295800

But please contact me as to your plans before sending anything!

Best wishes,
Juniper Neill (juniper@card.uzhgorod.ua)