Pavlohrad, Ukraine – Eastern Ukraine used to have a concert hall in this city, cottred on stage. Instead of music, the room is filled with mafled of local people operating from their homes by fighting in a war of about three years with Russia.
Recent advances of the Russian Army have surrounded towns and villages in the area. The Pavlohrad concert hall was required as a temporary center for local citizens, which was running away from the tireless Russian bombing.
“It’s good here. There is a place for food, warmth and washing, ”83 -year -old Katrena Odraha said, who lived through the Nazi German occupation of his village during World War II.
That shelter can now be in crisis.
The shelter costs $ 7,000 per month for walking, and 60% of it was being covered by American funds sent to help Ukraine.
President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze for 90 days last week, which provides the United States abroad, was felt in places away from Washington, including here, a few miles from the front line in Eastern Ukraine, a few miles from the front line in Eastern Ukraine. At a distance of.
Trump’s decision immediately stopped thousands of US funded humanitarian, development and security programs. The results have ripped out worldwide.
Ilya Novicov, coordinator of the Pavlohrad Transit Center, said, “The news was suddenly and unexpected,” is run by the Charity Organization Relief Coordination Center. “At this time, we do not know what the future is.”
He said that US funding covered fuel to help withdrawal vehicles, salary for help workers, legal and psychological support, and tickets to reach safe places.
Usually about 60 people pass the shelter each day, but according to Novicov, it may climb more than 200 when the dandruff bombs deteriorate.
Many people visiting here have spent months to stay in their basement without electricity, flowing water or adequate food.
58 -year -old Vasil Odraha stayed in his local village for months, even artillery fire and Russian -directed bomb attacks more frequent and closer to war.
He said that he initially admitted that Trump would stop the war within 24 hours of assuming the post, as he promised during his election campaign.
“We pinned our hopes on Trump’s choice,” he said, sitting on a cot next to his 83 -year -old mother.
When the battle did not stop, and the front line went within less than 3 kilometers (2 mi), where they lived, they ran away at dawn.
“If we had not left, we would have died the same night,” said Katerna Odraha.
Across Ukraine, many other area assistance is re -running from freeze, which keeps additional stress on the finance of Ukraine’s stretch war.
Energy projects, experienced support programs, psychological helpline, cyber security, healthcare, independent media and even border infrastructure projects have been affected. The purpose of assistance was to help in cushing the influence of war.
Ukrainian President Volodimier Zelinesky says his government hopes to assist $ 300-400 million. Most of them were for the energy sector that Russia has targeted.
Ukraine hopes to assist or reduce the internal people from European sources, Zelancesi said.
According to Zelancesi, US military aid is not frozen, but Ukraine has received only 42% of the money approved by the Congress.
There is no clear indication that the war may be close to ending, and means that Ukrainian citizens will need more help.
“Long withdrawal will continue,” said Novikov, coordinator of the transit center. “New front lines can be new affected communities, so we should be ready to provide assistance.”