Managing Director Heiserer Calls to Avoid New Year’s Rockets at New Year’s Eve | “In times of rocket attacks in Ukraine, setting off fireworks is inappropriate.”
Vienna (OTS) – “Especially in times like these, when millions of people in Ukraine are affected by rocket attacks and exposed to massive suffering every day, every New Year’s cookie is more than inappropriate. Instead of throwing dozens of euros in the air again this year, as is tradition, I ask you to donate the money for our emergency aid to Ukraine. So that instead of flashes of light and thunder in the sky, bread, warmth and solidarity warm human hearts and mouths much better”, appeals Reinhard Heiserer, managing director of Jugend Eine Weltjust before the turn of the year.
Emergency aid for Ukraine
The Austrian aid organization has been providing important emergency aid to refugees since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Together with long-term local project partners, Jugend Eine Welt provides places to sleep, food, transport and psychological assistance in Don Bosco localities in Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine itself. In addition to emergency aid, the focus is on the integration of refugees in neighboring neighboring countries. In particular, mothers with their children receive support in dealing with the authorities and in finding housing. In addition, a number of language courses and educational opportunities (including distance learning for Ukrainian schoolchildren) have been created.
Dramatic conditions in children’s intensive care unit in Odessa
At the same time, Jugend Eine Welt also supports critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, such as the children’s hospital in Odessa. If all goes according to plan, the next Jugend Eine Welt aid transport will arrive in the southern Ukrainian port city shortly after the turn of the year. In addition to urgently needed medication, this time will also include basic food baskets and warm winter blankets or shoes. “People in Odessa are freezing. Power outages that last for hours due to Russian drone strikes on the power supply are now part of everyday life. Our project partners at the Odessa Children’s Hospital tell us about dramatic conditions. More recently, newborns in the intensive care unit had to be manually ventilated because there was no electricity,” says Heiserer with concern.
Donations instead of fireworks
Although national supermarket chains are increasingly banning New Year’s Eve rockets from their shelves or already dispensing with them altogether, millions of euros are still literally shot into the sky in Austria at New Year’s Eve. “Firing fireworks is dangerous and can have serious health consequences. The environment is also unnecessarily burdened by the development of fine dust, animals suffer. Also, in countries like India, firecrackers are still made by children. Toxic chemicals are used and explosions and destruction occur repeatedly,” says Heiserer. The director of Jugend Eine Welt therefore asks that the new year not be greeted with fireworks, but with a sign of solidarity. “Please refrain from buying New Year’s rockets and instead donate the money intended for them. This is how short, loud bangs become heartfelt, life-giving signals of solidarity and help.”
Youth One World Donation Account: AT66 3600 0000 0002 4000 | Donate online at www.jugendeinewelt.at/spender-ist-helfen/jetzt-spender | Donations are tax deductible!
More information: www.jugendeinewelt.at
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Mag. Thomas Zach MA
Youth One World | Press and public relations
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