Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center: 237 truck convoys over two years

Two years later Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center continues providing humanitarian aid to Donbas residents. The very first truck convoy with food was sent on August 22, 2014 by decision of Rinat Akhmetov. And today, on August 16, 2016, the convoy #237 is on its way to Donetsk. It consists of 42 trucks and delivers food to form 100,000 survival kits.

"We have been working for two years. During this time, we experienced many difficult situations and learned to overcome them. They tried not to let us pass through the contact line, tried to get us involved in politics. We have overcome all this and we don't stop, we keep on helping. Because we know that our help is needed, and people are waiting for it", – Oleksandr Vyshniakov, Director of Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center, shares.

The Center managed to build an effective and well-coordinated system for delivery and issuance of humanitarian aid. The truck convoys set off for Donbas 2-4 times a week. There are two operating logistic centres in Mariupol and Donbas Arena in Donetsk. Here the volunteers form survival kits from the delivered food, afterwards the packages are taken to 38 fixed issuing points. Mobile teams deliver humanitarian aid to remote settlements. They work both in non-government-controlled areas, grey area and on the peaceful territory as well.

"We helped, we help and we will help... Once Rinat Akhmetov said these words, and they became the Humanitarian Center's motto. We will help until the war is over and while there are people who need our assistance there. We will send convoys with humanitarian aid, we will help with treatment and rehabilitation, provide assistance to the elderly, disabled people and children – everyone who needs us", – Rimma Fil, the Humanitarian Center's Coordinator, emphasizes.

Reference. Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center was established on August 6, 2014 to provide the maximum assistance to civilian population of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Center united the resources and possibilities of Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, SCM Group's businesses and Shakhtar Football Club.

The first convoy with humanitarian aid consisted of 60 trucks and was sent to Donbas on August 22, 2014. The first batch of humanitarian aid consisted of 200,000 food packages. The categories of aid recipients were determined according to the Center's principles – these are retired people older than 65, disabled people, large and foster families, orphans, single mothers and pregnant women.

As of August 16, 2016 Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center has sent 5,424 trucks to Donbas, they've delivered 108,520 tons of food. The Center has issued 9,266,455 food packages, where 8,599,144 are survival kits for adults and 667,311 are packages for children.