JDC Update on Ukraine | February 2015

young clients of JDC receiving food packages.

The Jewish Federation of San Diego County strives to deliver up-to-date and accurate reports on behalf of our partner organizations that are working to take care of Jews in need around the world.  One of Federation’s main partners—the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), is on the ground in Ukraine working day and night to assist vulnerable Jewish populations.

Last month, Federation released JDC’s January report— An Update on Ukraine. However, as the crisis in Ukraine took a turn for the worse in late January, due to a massive rocket attack in the city of Mariupol that killed 30 people, injured more than 100, and flared up a series of deadly assault; the reach, scope, and impact of JDC has greatly increased.

As highlighted in last month’s report, prior to the crisis, JDC was assisting more than 60,000 elderly adults – the most vulnerable population and 9,000 at-risk youth in 1,200 locations throughout Eastern Ukraine.

As of January 28, 2015, over 4,600 individuals in conflict zones are receiving life-sustaining services from JDC, such as food assistance, medical help, trauma support, accommodation subsidies, and other emergency services.

To date, there are more than 2,200 Jews utilizing JDC’s Winter Relief program, a service that distributes blankets, winter clothes, and electrical heaters in regions where electricity and heating fuel are in short supply. In just four months, more than 2,000 Jews in more than 100 eastern communities have been added to JDC’s social welfare network. Of the clients newly added to the network, 750 were added to the social welfare list in January alone!

Despite escalating violence, constant shelling, and the eruption of bombs, JDC continues its critical and life saving work uninterrupted by providing food, medical assistance, winter relief, and home care services to their list of clients that continues to grow on a daily basis.

None of this life saving work would be possible without you. Your continued support allows us to care for all Jews in need around the world.

Click here to read JDC’s full February report

Thank you, for all you do.