November 23, 1998
The situation is the Zakarpatia Oblast (province) of Ukraine is dire. Several days of above-normal rainfall caused flooding of the Tysa, Rika, Borzhava, Latorytsia, and Uzh Rivers on November 5th and 6th that destroyed thirty-eight (38) dams, twenty (20) bridges (and 487 bridges damaged), over 800 homes (with over 7,000 homes flooded), and miles of power lines, communications lines, gas lines, and rail lines. Over 24,000 people from over 100 villages were displaced. All except 8,000 have returned to their homes, but most of their homes are not in a good situation. Fourteen people have been killed by the flooding, many people are missing, and over 1,000 are injured.
Under the direction of the U.S. Government (the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, the U.S. Department of State, and USAID), Counterpart's Humanitarian Assistance Program (CHAP) has responded to this disaster. CHAP/Ukraine's Western Regional Director Ruslan Krivko was immediately dispatched to the area and is in Uzhgorod working with the Ministry of Emergencies Civil Defense Headquarters.
CHAP's Deputy General Director Serhiy Zhgilyov is in Kyiv with direct contact with the Ministry of Emergencies headquarters, and receives daily situation reports.
So far, this U.S. Government program has delivered the following items donated by the U.S. Department of Defense to
the region:
Cold-Weather Undershirts: 14,000 each;
Tents, with poles and pins: 1,000 sets;
Cold-Weather Wool Shirts: 1,800 each;
Cold-Weather Boots: 1,428 pairs;
Emergency Generators (10kw & 5kw): 23 each;
Furniture: 141 items.
The first U.S. Government deliveries arrived November 8th. The transportation expenses are being paid by the U.S. Department of State and by USAID's Ocean Freight Reimbursement Program. Counterpart has the following items in transit to the region, to arrive next week:
Water Purification Units: 2 each (donated through USAID's
Environmental Program);
Coveralls: 200 pairs;
Sweaters, Trousers, Shirts, Rubber Overshoes, Sleeping Mats,
Sleeping Bags, Mess Kits, Tents: 1 container;
Medical Equipment, Furniture, and Supplies: 0.5 container.
The value of the items listed above exceeds $1,000,000. In addition, the U.S. Department of State and USAID have approved the shipment of ten more containers of relief items from the U.S. (donated by the U.S. Department of Defense) during the December through March timeframe.
Within Ukraine, many organizations and people, including Ukrainians and Americans, want to donate clothing, blankets, canned food, and other items. This is admirable and welcomed. For this purpose, the employees and alumni of USAID's AED ACCELS program have established two collection points in Kyiv to receive donations:
DONATION COLLECTION POINTS:
Kyiv Shevchenko State University (the red building);
Room 201, 60 Volodymyrska Street;
Contact: Olya Smyrnova or Andrea Kalan;
Phone: 224-7356 (ACCELS Program office)
Kyiv Sport Club
5 Druzhby Narodiv Boulevard
Contact: Dwight Hewitt or Svyatoslav
Counterpart will pick-up the boxes of items at the collection
points, deliver them to the Zakarpatia Oblast, and distribute
them through the various Raion Councils and Ministry of
Emergencies Civil Defense offices.
Many people and organizations want to donate money to assist with the victim relief operations. For example, the City of Burlington, Vermont in the U.S., which has a Community Partnerships Project partnership with the City of Mukachevo in the Zakarpatia Oblast through the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, has collected funds to donate. Several other American and Ukrainian organizations have expressed a desire to donate funds. For this purpose, Counterpart International's U.S. headquarters office has established a special account to receive donations of cash, which will be used to purchase medicines, medical consumables, fuel, and other most-needed items. Funds are also needed to pay for distribution, logistics, and in-country transportation expenses.
To send funds to support the Zakarpatia Flood Relief Project by wire transfer please use the following wire transfer instructions:
Citibank NA ABA #021000089;
Further Credit to Citibank FSB, ABA #2540-7011-6;
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE;
Washington, DC 20003 U.S.A.
Account Holder: Counterpart International, Inc.;
Account number: 1500-3558;
Project Code: 514.
I hope this has answered all questions, but if not, you may call
the following phone numbers:
Counterpart Humanitarian Assistance Program (CHAP-Ukraine):
Phone: 380-44-294-8968 or 230-2346
Contact: Serhiy Zhgilyov or Brian Propp
Unites States Agency for International Development (USAID-Kyiv):
Phone: 380-44-462-5678
Contact: Konstantin Yakubenko or Lydia Matiaszek
Counterpart International, Inc., U.S. Headquarters:
Phone: 1-202-296-9676
Contact: Erica Hovani or Bob Thibeault
Thank you for your interest in this situation. I will send periodic updates as we receive them from the Ministry of
Emergencies and other sources.
Best regards,
Brian R. Propp
General Director
Counterpart Humanitarian Assistance Program (CHAP)
in the Western Newly Independent States (WESTNIS)
of Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova
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Counterpart International's Humanitarian Assistance Program in
Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova (CHAP/WESTNIS) is sponsored by
USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Embassy in
Kyiv. Counterpart International is a nonprofit, nongovernmental,
international charitable organization founded in 1965 and based
in Washington, DC, USA; registered tax exempt under IRS Code
501-C-3.