Many people are unaware that the Jewish population of Ukraine is estimated at 250,000. That is more then the Jewish population of the UK!
Right now most of them in the areas affected by the Russian invasion is trying to flee to what seems to be safer places.
For example, recently the funds we sent have help support Rabbi Shaul Horowitz in Vinnitsa in Central West Ukraine who is helping people escaping from Kiev every day. Young and elderly are arriving with very few belongings and insufficient clothing for the freezing weather. Rabbi Horowitz is giving them clothing, food and has housed some of them in all his available rooms including mattresses lining the floor of the mikveh which is 3 floors underground and acts as a bunker.
Trains have 5 or more hour delays. Busses charge thousands of dollars a journey and there are high-security costs on top.
Rabbi Moshe Fhima of Pinsk, Belarus, ( originally from Manchester, UK ) arranged for 180 people to be brought to Belarus and some to neighbouring Moldova. The cost of each transport cost over $100,000! and the communities do not have the means to expend these funds.
The expressions on the faces of the children and the young parents arriving, are one of abject fear!
The perils of the journey include road blocks, uncertainty, Russian vehicles and aircraft who can attack civilians indiscriminately. This situation is unlike anything we have seen in recent history and it is Pikuach Nefesh in the real sense of the word!
