Help Ukrainian Families Rebuild Their Lives

Dear Friends, Family and All Kind People,

I must reach out to you to ask for your help for the Ukrainian families living in the territories devastated by the Russian invaders. These territories include Irpen, Bucha, Chernihiv, as well as other towns around Kiev.

My friend Dr. Oksana Karnabeda is a hematologist, like myself, who has continued to practice medicine in Kiev and occupied territories throughout the war. I got in touch with her recently to get an update on the realities of the current situation for the regular people.

I can't convey to you the desperation and devastation in Oksana's voice. She related to me the details of Russian occupation, some of which I can't even retell.

Russian soldiers looted Ukrainian homes taking everything- TVs, microwaves, clothing, and even underwear. Even a cement mixing machine was stolen from one of her friends.

All the stored food was taken away. All computers were stolen from the local schools, while what could not be stolen was destroyed- screens were pierced, cars shot at or run over by tanks, furniture broken. From her account, Russian soldiers were envious of the Ukrainian standard of living. One said, "What, you thought you could continue living in such comfort forever"? Many houses were destroyed or damaged, farm animals and pets killed. Oksana's nurse, her husband, and small son were caught by the Russians when they were trying to flee Irpen. The Russians shot their car to unusable state and imprisoned the family in their basement for two weeks without letting them use a bathroom or providing fresh food. The family survived on the food stored in the basement until Irpen was freed. They sustained enormous psychological damage. There are hundreds of families like this.

Nevertheless, Ukrainian families are returning to their homes. Ukrainians are the people of the land, who have been tending to their orchards and fields for millennia. I myself come from a Ukrainian family- springtime is time to paint the house anew, and to plant the garden. Unfortunately, survival itself is difficult now for these families. The prices of goods went up, while most lost their jobs or were laid off without pay. Local stores have trouble restocking due to the interrupted supply chains as well as lack of revenue. Many clinics were destroyed and the medical workers were left without jobs. People have to continue to pay utilities, but there is no income. Medications are scarce and expensive. Children are suffering most, as they are all traumatized, have no schools to go to, and have no stable food supply.

I am asking for your help to directly aid multiple Ukrainian families, mostly medical workers in order for them to be able to obtain food, help rebuild their homes and continue working and taking care of their children. Some of them have no means to even get back to work as they have no transportation or no money to pay for transportation. Without returning to work they would not get paid.

My goal is to collect at least 10 000 dollars to help these families feed themselves and get on their feet. Every penny will be transferred to the families and used for the stated purpose. I will provide regular updates on the use of the transferred funds. There is no amount too small, even $20 will feed a family for several days.

I believe, that if every one of us commits an act of kindness, the good will prevail.

Thank you for your help!

Sincerely,

Yuliya Linhares, MD

Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant

The funds will be transferred to Dr. Oksana Karnabeda (Kiev) who will distribute them to the 54 people (the full list is available upon request).