Being in the right place at the right time...

As will be widely known by now, a major hydroelectric dam, at Nova Kakhovka on the Dnipro River near Kherson, was blown up by Russia early this morning, causing devastating floods that have forced thousands of people in the Kherson region to flee their homes, many of which have been swept away, and an unfolding ecological disaster that will be felt for decades. Countless domesticated and wild animals have also been affected. As if life wasn't hard enough for people in this region, who endure daily shelling, which, reportedly, continued, even whilst rescue efforts were underway.

This new crisis has led to a change in our aid delivery to Kherson tomorrow, thanks to the responsiveness of the volunteers at the Lighthouse for Revival organisation. We drove to their warehouse near Odesa this afternoon where, instead of the planned load of furniture for a bombed school, we packed tins of food, hygiene items, and diapers for babies and adults, to be delivered to people most affected by the floods. 

We only met the founder and director of Lighthouse for Revival yesterday, but it feels like a lot longer and a lot has happened in the past 24 hours. But a stranger, now a friend, entrusted us with a van full of aid.
We're really glad that we moved down here, just at a time when humanitarian aid is more needed than ever, and also that we have established the trust to be taking this valuable load to Kherson.

This morning we also met with volunteers from the centre for internally displaced people in Odesa, of which there are at least 16,000, which is bound to increase after today. We have arranged to start beginners English classes for adults, twice a week, in early July. 

In view of the new crisis situation in Kherson, we want to take as much aid as practicable to support the people affected by the floods. 
If you are able to support in any way, however small, please: 

1. Open PayPal and, when asked for name of payee or email, enter trawden4ukraine@hotmail.com. 

Or, if you live in/near Trawden:
2. Use the collection box in Trawden community shop. Which, we say again, for our Canadian/American supporters, might be a challenge!



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