Tschernobyl-Initiative in der
Propstei Schöppenstedt e.V.
Humanitarian Aid for Belarus, from 2007
At its last meeting, the Board of the "Tschernobyl-Initiative in der Propstei
Schöppenstedt e.V." debated at length the problems of humanitarian aid
for Belarus.
Firstly, the Chairman was able to report on the arrival of the last transport
(17.11.2006) and also that the Belarussian
Customs authority and the Department for Humanitarian Aid have since released the load for
distribution.
In Year 20 after the Chernobyl catastrophe, we as an organisation are faced with
the following problem: the ever-increasing cost of transport (the last
transport, in November, cost 2950 Euros. That was more than the previous one
in May).
At the same time, donations of money are declining. This forces us
to put our humanitarian aid under close scrutiny.
After a detailed report from the Chairman about the previous
transports, and of the sequence of events from contact with our partner until Customs clearance,
consideration was given to a change necessary from 2007.
It will be necessary to check the quality of donated goods more strictly,
i.e. that as far as possible before receipt it is clear whether the clothing,
shoes, toys etc. are in a condition to be sent on without further work.
Before special aid items are accepted, the
partner in Belarus will be contacted, to confirm whether such aid is required.
Donated aid which is accepted will be sorted more strictly than previously, and
if there is any doubt, rejected.
As instead of 4-6 transports per year, in future we will probably only be able
to finance 2-3 transports, it is also unavoidable that the acceptance rules
will have to be changed. The gift of aid which,
fortunately, continues to be available to us must be curtailed, because
we are not able to accept more than a certain amount of aid donations. The Board will
consider this further and advise conclusive rules at its next sitting in
January.
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