Reference :
V-P-UA-E-00317
Date :
17/07/2015
Caption :
Donetsk region, Oleksandrivka village. Volunteers from the local community offload humanitarian aid donated by the ICRC.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
ICRC website, article of the 27th August 2015:
"The people of eastern Ukraine are still suffering the effects of the recent fighting. In opposition-controlled Oleksandrivka and government-controlled Mariinka, the front line makes short journeys long and separates families.
ICRC staff stand in the centre of Oleksandrivka, a small opposition-controlled village in the suburbs of Donetsk. Residents start to approach them, smiling broadly. The ICRC has come to Oleksandrivka to hand out food, hygiene parcels and other items, like candles. Just another day's work. As offloading starts in the now-peaceful village, it is hard to believe that just a few days ago these cheerful people were sitting in the basements of their houses, terrified, while shells rained down outside.
Oleksandrivka lies roughly 8 kilometres from the town of Mariinka. In normal times, it would take 10 minutes to get there by car. But these are not normal times, and Mariinka lies in government-controlled territory, on the other side of the front line.
Both Mariinka and Oleksandrivka were badly damaged during the fighting that broke out in 2014. People on both sides are still experiencing many difficulties and hardships every day.
The armed conflict has divided not just two communities but also people's lives and families. In front of the distribution point at the warehouse we meet Svetlana and Vladimir, an elderly married couple who are watching the proceedings. They have lived in Oleksandrivka for years. Svetlana grew up in Mariinka, but moved to Oleksandrivka when she married Vladimir. Her 80-year-old mother still lives in Mariinka.
"When things get really bad we bring my mother here, but she refuses to live with us permanently because she loves her own house," explains Svetlana.
Bringing Svetlana's mother to stay is not as easy as it was. Mariinka may only be 8 km away, but the journey takes hours. Svetlana and Vladimir have no car. The journey on foot and by bicycle involves a huge detour and is not without its dangers, including the unexploded munitions that lie along the route. But they all want to be together, so they bring Svetlana's mother for visits to Oleksandrivka despite the risks.
There was an uncomfortable silence when Svetlana finished her story. Vladimir stared at the wheel of his bicycle. "I don't understand who needed this war. So many guys have died."
Delivering aid is much more dangerous near the front line than elsewhere. Anything might happen here.
To make sure the distribution went off smoothly, and to avoid endangering both residents and staff, the ICRC spoke to the parties to the conflict beforehand, to obtain security guarantees for the convoy. The same day, ICRC staff on the other side of the front line travelled to the government-controlled town of Mariinka, where our engineers installed much-needed water tanks for the people living there. As in Oleksandrivka, and any other front-line town or village, people were experiencing many difficulties. The ICRC operates without discrimination, on both sides, and our only criterion in deciding what help to give is "What do the most vulnerable people need?"
With the last food parcel offloaded, the truck drivers start their engines. On this particular day, that is the only loud noise to disturb the tranquility of a peaceful village full of laughing children. Svetlana and Vladimir go home, and the two ICRC teams – one on each side of the front line – return to their respective offices.
They will continue to work hard, doing their best to alleviate suffering, because this has, indeed, been just another day's work."
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
5472x3648
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
