I have now got in touch with eight hosts and I am fully booked in Kyiv until 10th April. Yuri, my first host, still keeps in touch. This is from yesterday and contains some information that other sponsors might be pleased to know about:
Hello, Elizabeth!
We can spend money. You can withdraw from an ATM, you can pay with a card.
We send this money to people who are left without a salary for food.
We send them to the military for clothing, we send them to the manufacture of helicopters for the army, there are craftsmen who collect them.
We also populate our apartments for free with refugees.
We also just help friends who are without food.
Here the police asked for clothes, we will also send them to her.
I'm in Kiev. I won't leave. My wife is stubborn as a sheep and also does not want to leave without me. It makes me angry, I'm worried that she's here. After all, if people come with machine guns, who knows what they have in mind.
I have made many friends abroad and you are among them.
---
My exchange with Tatiana felt a little surreal at the outset:
Доброе время суток, Елизавета! Я Киевлянка. Родилась и живу в Киеве.
У нас идёт война!Должна сказать Вам что у нас очень опасно....
(Tatiana says that she lives in Kyiv, she was born there. Then she says that there is a war raging in Ukraine and she must tell me it is very dangerous to go there...)
Erzsebet15:33
Tatiana, I know there is a war going on. This is why I want to help. I will book your flat and you will get some money. I am not coming. Many of us are trying to help this way. Is that OK? Hugs, Elizabeth
I will come and see you after the war :-)... I have just booked three nights. Take care, Elizabeth
Татьяна16:11
Елизавета Спасибо Вам
(Tatiana is grateful.)
Erzsebet16:15
See you after the war :-), E
Татьяна16:23
Спасибо Вам за вашу поддержку❤️, Буду очень рада видеть Вас в своих апартаментах. 🙏🙏🙏
(Tatiana says I will be welcome at her place in the future.)
Erzsebet16:32
My privilege, Tatiana, stay safe, E
---
There is also an amazing young man, who has set his cancellation policy as "No refunds" and in a long message asks patrons to cancel their bookings after their payment has gone through so that the dates released in this way become available again. When I suggested this to Yuri, this was his laconic reply (also responding to my reaction to what he said about his wife): Your wife is a headstrong lady. Hug her for me :-)...
Жену обниму, спасибо!
А отмену делать мне неловко.
Просить человека неловко.
I'll hug my wife, thank you!
And it's embarrassing for me to cancel.
Asking a person is awkward.
---
Sorry for this long message. I am just trying to say that we need to take into account people's dignity and pride when we provide assistance.
After the war is over, I am planning to go to Kyiv and meet my hosts :-).
I would like to add another way to help … With a 9 year old granddaughter with type 1 diabetes I am particularly sensitive to the special needs of this community. Now with over 2 million refugees having fled Ukraine and this number increasing at the rate of almost 150,000 per day, those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at great risk due to this condition. They have been separated from their regular medical care, diabetes treatment supplies, and care. Ukraine has approximately 130,000 citizens with Type 1 diabetes and 2.3 million with type 2 diabetes. Many of these are women and children now refugees and without access to critical care and supplies at significant risk. The U.S. diabetes community is working to address this critical need. You can learn more about how to help and join in this effort here:
Médecins sans Frontières ( https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ )is active in Ukraine. I gave to them in honor of someone about six months ago and now they keep sending me email saying they are shipping medical supplies to Ukraine. I think I'll give through them--they're a reputable and competent group as best as I can tell.
Yes, they are one of the organizations we worked with in funding and sending a plane load of T1D and T2D supplies to Poland last weekend to support Ukrainian refuges with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
They are a fantastic organization, very reliable and effective. We regularly support them.
I've just watched Fareed Zakaria's interview with Gennadiy Drukenko, a Ukrainian constitutional lawyer who runs an ambulance corps. I was deeply moved by his plea for ambulances, and also horrified that it should be necessary. Must the ambulances be provided by governments? What is the best way for ordinary Americans to help?
On Airbnb, users of the platform from different countries booked accommodation in Ukraine for 434 thousand nights. This was reported by the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. Thus, Ukrainian hosts received $15 million in financial assistance.
I have now got in touch with eight hosts and I am fully booked in Kyiv until 10th April. Yuri, my first host, still keeps in touch. This is from yesterday and contains some information that other sponsors might be pleased to know about:
Hello, Elizabeth!
We can spend money. You can withdraw from an ATM, you can pay with a card.
We send this money to people who are left without a salary for food.
We send them to the military for clothing, we send them to the manufacture of helicopters for the army, there are craftsmen who collect them.
We also populate our apartments for free with refugees.
We also just help friends who are without food.
Here the police asked for clothes, we will also send them to her.
I'm in Kiev. I won't leave. My wife is stubborn as a sheep and also does not want to leave without me. It makes me angry, I'm worried that she's here. After all, if people come with machine guns, who knows what they have in mind.
I have made many friends abroad and you are among them.
---
My exchange with Tatiana felt a little surreal at the outset:
Доброе время суток, Елизавета! Я Киевлянка. Родилась и живу в Киеве.
У нас идёт война!Должна сказать Вам что у нас очень опасно....
(Tatiana says that she lives in Kyiv, she was born there. Then she says that there is a war raging in Ukraine and she must tell me it is very dangerous to go there...)
Erzsebet15:33
Tatiana, I know there is a war going on. This is why I want to help. I will book your flat and you will get some money. I am not coming. Many of us are trying to help this way. Is that OK? Hugs, Elizabeth
I will come and see you after the war :-)... I have just booked three nights. Take care, Elizabeth
Татьяна16:11
Елизавета Спасибо Вам
(Tatiana is grateful.)
Erzsebet16:15
See you after the war :-), E
Татьяна16:23
Спасибо Вам за вашу поддержку❤️, Буду очень рада видеть Вас в своих апартаментах. 🙏🙏🙏
(Tatiana says I will be welcome at her place in the future.)
Erzsebet16:32
My privilege, Tatiana, stay safe, E
---
There is also an amazing young man, who has set his cancellation policy as "No refunds" and in a long message asks patrons to cancel their bookings after their payment has gone through so that the dates released in this way become available again. When I suggested this to Yuri, this was his laconic reply (also responding to my reaction to what he said about his wife): Your wife is a headstrong lady. Hug her for me :-)...
Жену обниму, спасибо!
А отмену делать мне неловко.
Просить человека неловко.
I'll hug my wife, thank you!
And it's embarrassing for me to cancel.
Asking a person is awkward.
---
Sorry for this long message. I am just trying to say that we need to take into account people's dignity and pride when we provide assistance.
After the war is over, I am planning to go to Kyiv and meet my hosts :-).
Elizabeth, I love your long messages. Please continue to tell us about your new friends in Ukraine.
I would like to add another way to help … With a 9 year old granddaughter with type 1 diabetes I am particularly sensitive to the special needs of this community. Now with over 2 million refugees having fled Ukraine and this number increasing at the rate of almost 150,000 per day, those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at great risk due to this condition. They have been separated from their regular medical care, diabetes treatment supplies, and care. Ukraine has approximately 130,000 citizens with Type 1 diabetes and 2.3 million with type 2 diabetes. Many of these are women and children now refugees and without access to critical care and supplies at significant risk. The U.S. diabetes community is working to address this critical need. You can learn more about how to help and join in this effort here:
https://beyondtype1.org/help-ukraine-diabetes-community/
The organizations behind this effort are well organized and recognized. If you are able please help in these efforts.
Thank you, 🙏🏻🇺🇦💙💛
I did make a donation to Direct Relief. Thank you for the link. I'm a diabetic myself and am glad to help the Ukrainian diabetics.
🙏 Thank you for your kindness and compassion
Médecins sans Frontières ( https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ )is active in Ukraine. I gave to them in honor of someone about six months ago and now they keep sending me email saying they are shipping medical supplies to Ukraine. I think I'll give through them--they're a reputable and competent group as best as I can tell.
Yes, they are one of the organizations we worked with in funding and sending a plane load of T1D and T2D supplies to Poland last weekend to support Ukrainian refuges with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
They are a fantastic organization, very reliable and effective. We regularly support them.
Thank you so much for collecting these sources in one spot.
I've just watched Fareed Zakaria's interview with Gennadiy Drukenko, a Ukrainian constitutional lawyer who runs an ambulance corps. I was deeply moved by his plea for ambulances, and also horrified that it should be necessary. Must the ambulances be provided by governments? What is the best way for ordinary Americans to help?
I would like to know if Prof. Snyder has an opinion as to whether this might be a helpful way to get the truth to the Russian people.
I like the idea very much, and have gone to the website, but want to make sure I'm not missing some implications before going ahead with it.
Thank you. https://www.wsj.com/articles/using-a-new-cyber-tool-westerners-have-been-texting-russians-about-the-war-in-ukraine-11647100803?reflink=share_mobilewebshare
A quick note - crowdfunding at its best...
On Airbnb, users of the platform from different countries booked accommodation in Ukraine for 434 thousand nights. This was reported by the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. Thus, Ukrainian hosts received $15 million in financial assistance.