Emergency Relief for the Crisis in Ukraine

It's been 10 days since we launched this project. First of all, thank you for your generous support. We are encouraged so much by your support.

Since March 17th, we have dispatched two staff members from Japan to Hungary, which is currently hosting more than 500,000 Ukrainian refugees. This is a report written by one of them from the field. Our mission is to visit key local points in the field, assess the situation and needs, and then provide emergency support.

So far, we have conducted the following activities:

• Lectures from local collaborators on the current situation and the relationship between neighboring countries such as Ukraine, Russia, and Hungary,
• Hearing from a local support group (Budapest Bike Maffia) on the current situation of the Hungarian-Ukraine border,
• Conducted a survey on the situation at Budapest West and East stations, where many refugees coming to Hungary from Ukraine are headed,
• Visited the Ukraine-Hungary Border points and help centers (Zahony, Barabash, Bergslany, Chisavech),
• Conducted an interview with refugee women from Ukraine,
• Visited a local organization, Migration Aid, which provides temporary housing (capacity of 300 people),
• Visited Syma Sports and Event Center, a temporary transit center for people who arrived  at the Budapest train stations,
• Met with a local lawyer to discuss the legal requirements to operate in the area, including NGO registration,
• Visited and interviewed the Greek Catholic Church that regularly provides relief supplies to western Ukraine.

Our findings:

• The Hungarian government, civil society organizations, and others are cooperating to provide a certain level of support,
• About 80% of the refugees who have entered Hungary are headed to other countries, such as Western Europe,
• Of course, there is diversity among refugees,
• On the other hand, those who remain in Hungary have needs such as employment assistance, education,  and medical care for their children,
• There are also a certain number of people who are hard to reach for assistance, such as the Romani people.
• Internally displaced people (80,000-100,000 in number) are flowing from central Ukraine to western Ukraine, where military activities are not yet underway, and there are many emergency relief needs, including basic needs due to high prices and lack of accommodation. 

Over the past 10 days, we have been gathering information and assessing needs from a variety of angles. First, we will provide emergency humanitarian assistance, including the distribution of supplies. In fact, we have already carried out some relief activities. The details of these activities will be reported in our next report.

This is our first emergency assistance for long-term support, and we are committed to continuous flexible support as needs and circumstances change. Moreover, we will keep in mind that such crises are occurring not only in Ukraine but also in Yemen, DRC, and other places of the world, where many people's lives are in danger at stake. Please stay tuned for more updates and thank you for your continued support.

With deep gratitude,

Mai Yoshida, Terra Renaissance

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