© EFF PACHOUD / AFP
LUkraine, a Luxembourg-based organisation, is working hard on all fronts to organise help for Ukrainians fleeing the war, and already has 600 families ready to receive refugees in the Grand Duchy.
Private initiatives to help Ukrainian refugees have multiplied in recent days in the Grand Luxembourg. Earlier this week, Julien Doussot and Tetiana Tarasenko left Kirchberg by bus to bring 44 refugees back to Luxembourg.
However, LUkraine is now coordinating efforts.
Outraged from the start of the war, the group is seeking to help those who have suffered from the Russian bombing in Ukraine, to support civilian fighters, and to bring refugees to Luxembourg, where they will need a place to stay.
The group believes that action is urgently needed as "there are children dying every day in Ukraine under the bombs", according to Nicolas Zharov, its president, who accused Russia of orchestrating "a genocide of the Ukrainian people".
"According to our estimates, nearly 250 Ukrainians have already arrived in Luxembourg," Zharov said. The website to sign up for hosting Ukrainians fleeing the war is "already a success". "We have nearly 600 host families on our lists," said Zharov.
The first Ukrainian refugees arrived at the Bouillon car park on Thursday.
More will follow. For "in just seven days, we have seen the exodus of a million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Thursday.
LUkraine is actively looking for drivers to help evacuate people to the Polish border.
Contacting the Immigration Directorate
The government is also offering support and has just opened an emergency reception centre and a hotline.
Private initiatives from LUkraine and others have been welcomed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, which has asked all residents who have offered or are offering to host Ukrainians in their homes to contact the hotline run by Caritas and the Red Cross with the support of the Ministry of Family Affairs (Tel: +352 621 796 780 or by email at Ukraine@zesummeliewen.lu)
Ukrainian refugees "do not need to take any particular steps to stay in Luxembourg at this stage" and "should therefore not worry about their administrative situation" for the time being, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. It has asked refugees to contact the ministry's Immigration Directorate (immigration.desk@mae.etat.lu) to receive a form to fill in and help the Luxembourg authorities to contact them to apply for temporary protection.
Since Thursday, the government has set up an emergency reception centre, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, located at the SHUK (Structure d'hébergement d'urgence au Kirchberg), 11 rue Carlo Hemmer in Luxembourg City. The centre is meant to provide temporary shelter for Ukrainians wishing to apply for protection in Luxembourg, but also for people wanting to reach another European country.
Collection Point at Kirchberg Hospital
At the same time, LUkraine has launched an appeal for donations and equipment on its website. "We don't need clothes for the moment, but there are more urgent needs such as batteries, torches, radios or infrared and thermal cameras", explains Inna Yaremenko.
Many towns are without electricity and local defence units are in urgent need of military equipment, but also bandages, tourniquets and first aid kits. The association points out that financial donations "will also be used to buy helmets and bulletproof vests".
LUkraine has joined forces with Hôpitaux Robert Schuman, which supports its initiatives. The group is inviting its employees, subcontractors and friends to join in this effort. All donations can be dropped off at the collection point located at the Kirchberg Hospital, "Lieu d'accueil Adagio" (entrance Boulevard Pierre Werner) which is open every day from 8am to 6pm.
