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Causing ruins without using weapons......that’s what natural disasters are capable of... After his return from Ukraine, Christian Ehrler of the Lengenfeld organization, the Transcarpathia Benefit Society Inc., reported on his impressions and the situation in the disaster area of Transcarpathia. As late as 2 months ago, the world was still normal for the people in the southwest of Ukraine near the Hungarian border. Their admittedly poor life went on as it always did. Then came the flood, within 48 hours the water level of the Theiss River, which rises in the Carpathians, rose from 34 cm to over 7 meters. This was a catastrophe of almost unimaginable proportions. More that 320,000 people were affected, over 50,000 were evacuated, some by night and by Hungarian helicopters. Almost 250 towns with over 31,000 buildings were flooded. It is said that the water surface was greater than Lake Balaton (in Hungary). The water has an average depth of 2 meters, in the villages of Feketeardó and Vári at some points it is 3 meters. Now the water is gone, leaving behind ruins, mud, debris, and more suffering, misery and poverty. An image of destruction. "Even after the war it didn’t look like this.”—reported an elderly woman in tears, who had lost everything. “You can count on two hands the number of houses still standing on our street" — so said a young man just as he was removing some remnants. "I see people sitting on a bench staring at the ruins of their home." —said Ehrler. Others are packing things, fixing up, and building whatever is possible with their modest means. Some want to leave and move to other villages. Many are currently living in sheds or stalls, often no bigger than 3 by 4 meters, for example a man who no longer has any legs. Others are staying with acquaintances and relatives. A mother tells us: "Our children ask every day when we are going home again? How shall I explain to them?" As I walk through the village people rush out of their houses. They want me to photograph their houses or what is left of them. They suspect I am from some agency to assess damages. Ukrainian soldiers help remove debris, salvaging what is still usable. Lots of things have already been “removed” such as innumerable dead animals. In the village of Vári alone over 100 cows and horses drowned. That is a serious loss for the people, as the animals provided not a small part of their livelihood. Piles of mud lie along roadsides, as if a snowplow had moved them there. Fields and gardens had already been planted. The seed now might as well lie under a covering of concrete. By contrast, one sometimes finds remnants of asphalt from the streets deep in the fields and meadows. Even the people whose houses survived the flood are not especially lucky. They too show water damage in their homes. All the furniture and many home accessories are unusable or ruined, personal and family mementos are irretrievably lost. For many the events are incomprehensible, both then and now. "Many people cannot sleep because they are afraid, when it is raining heavily" - someone told me, stated Christian Ehrler of the Transcarpathia Benefit Society. People in one region of Germany have already donated $6,000 to benefit flood victims in Ukraine. With a thankful heart this help was accepted for the reconstruction of houses. It helps to gain a little hope for the future. A sincere “thank you” to all who have donated thus far! Donations for victims of the flood in Transcarpathia are welcome. Please transfer them to: Account No. 381 20 10908 |
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