Ali, who had previously experienced conflict in Afghanistan, understands the wide-ranging impact of large-scale military actions on civilians.
After the start of the Ukraine war, Ali and his wife, owners of a small clothing store in Odessa, began providing relief and donating clothes to people forced to flee their homes due to the conflict.
In an interview with UN News, Ali discussed his work for The Tenth of April relief organization, which collaborates with the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, in Ukraine.
‘More concerned about war in Ukraine’
“Twenty-four years ago, my parents took me and my brother and sister and moved from Afghanistan, fleeing war and persecution. This country became our new home.
We are more concerned and worried about the situation in Ukraine than in Afghanistan, and we are trying to help as much as we can.
At such a moment, when the country desperately needs help, it is necessary to get involved, to do something good.
Now I work a lot with people who suffer from shelling in Odessa oblast. We distribute humanitarian aid, which is extremely necessary for the affected people.
With each passing day, we see an increasing number of people seeking assistance.
I can speak a number of languages, so I am able to work with The Tenth of April to aid refugees and asylum seekers who had earlier fled to Ukraine to seek protection. I am now engaged as a social worker and logistician.
Frontline destruction
The situation in the villages near the frontline is devastating. Everything is destroyed, and people are barely surviving.
What inspires me the most is the gratitude in people’s eyes. It makes me forget about tiredness. A girl from a displaced family in Kherson once made me a yellow-blue ribbon, and it touched me deeply. Such moments are unforgettable.
This organization supported my family when we were asylum seekers in Ukraine, and I saw their dedication to their work.
My wife and 15-year-old son are determined to stay in Ukraine and help in any way they can.
Recently, during the distribution of construction materials to residents of a house damaged by shelling in Odessa, my son helped unload and stayed with me until night.
Today, my colleagues include internally displaced people from Kherson and Mykolaiv. I see their wholehearted dedication, which inspires me to do my best and do more.
- The UN estimates that 18 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year.
- Humanitarian needs are particularly acute for internally displaced persons who have been away from home for a long time and those who remain in frontline areas during the war.
- The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, collaborates with 29 partner organizations, such as The Tenth of April, to assist people in need throughout Ukraine.
- With the support of its donors, UNHCR aims to help 3.6 million people in Ukraine in 2023.