SmartAID provides renewable energy generators, heaters, rechargeable thermal blankets and battery packs to help Ukrainians avoid freezing this winter.
By Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel21c
When Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko sent that chilling message to the Western world, technology-focused Israeli humanitarian aid organization SmartAid stepped in to help.
“As Russian strikes against the country’s energy grid intensifies, Ukraine is already experiencing freezing nighttime temperatures, and hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to endure them without any source of heating while millions more are predicted to be directly impacted in the coming months,” said Founding Director Shachar Zahavi.
“Across Ukraine, civilians are stocking up on heaters, blankets, warm clothing and power banks to charge electronics — all of which are now lacking due to the high demand of these items across Europe, which itself is preparing for winter.”
Zahavi says that SmartAID has been installing solar generators and power packs in the past few months across Ukraine and is now purchasing heaters and rechargeable thermal blankets for shelters, hospitals and residential communal facilities as temperatures fall.
“We have been preparing since the summer for this situation and are desperately reaching out to our partners and donors to support our efforts so we can save as many lives as possible before it’s too late,” said Zahavi. “Hundreds of thousands could die — especially the elderly, people with Illness and children.”
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