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Notes for donations of Aid

For the victims of the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe, we collect well-kept clothing, textiles, toys, wheelchairs and walking aids, as well as donations of money for medicines and for transport costs.

We aim to put together two or three transports of aid every year.

The contents and weight of the individual parcels for the shipments for humanitarian aid will be declared and registered at the clothing store in Watzum. In order to keep an idea of what is in the clothing store and to ensure controlled access to the registered parcels for the transport, the clothing store must not be overstocked anymore. This also means that we are able to accept only a limited amount of donated items until we have more space again in the clothing store after dispatching an aid shipment. Humanitarian aid for Belarus has become more difficult. Some customs officers are not pleased to see that their fellow countrymen receive help and they interpret customs regulations quite strictly. This has caused problems with customs clearance time and again. We at Chernobyl Initiative must get increasingly used to the official standards as regards customs clearance and similar issues for humanitarian aid and can no longer hope for special treatment of humanitarian aid shipment. This creates several problems for us because it is no longer enough to estimate the weight of the load and it is not enough to provide a rough summary of the contents when announcing a shipment. When a shipment is being put together, we must communicate contents, weight and value of the truck delivery in advance.
Another problem arising for us in connection with the humanitarian aid shipments are the continuously increasing transportation costs. We are able to accept donated items only after having collected sufficient funds (EUR 3,000.00) for a humanitarian aid transport.

The transports are unloaded in Belarus in the presence of local Customs officials, and initially secured in a storage area. Then staff from the Department for Humanitarian Aid, working together with Customs, check the accompanying documentation. Usually it takes approximately 4 weeks until the humanitarian aid is released. Only then can the aid be distributed to the needy via our Partners

We ask all donors to bring clothing and other aid to the clothing Store themselves at the indicated Opening times

Please note the following points when donating items:

1. All donated aid is distributed directly to people in Belarus. Therefore clothing, shoes and toys should be in good condition and suitable for immediate use. In case of doubt it is thoroughly sorted:
   • clothing should be clean
   • any zip fasteners must work
   • no buttons should be missing
   • to prevent single shoes going missing, please tie them together in pairs
2. Should you wish to donate a special item, please contact us first. Before accepting, we check whether our partners in Belarus need these items.
3. If possible, pack your donations into cardboard boxes: not into plastic bags, as these break easily. Cardboard boxes are available free in Watzum.

If you have any further questions, we are happy to help via our Contact addresses.

We are looking for volunteer helpers, to help us to sort and pack the aid.

Transportations of auxiliary goods

Next aid transport:

Next receipt of aid donations:

• Humanitarian assistance 2007

• Store for auxiliary goods
• Opening times of the store
• Advice for donations

• Contact organisations in Belarus
• Kassel

• Transportations of auxiliary goods 2007
• Transportations of auxiliary goods 2006
• Transportations of auxiliary goods 2005
• Transportations of auxiliary goods 2004
• Transportations of auxiliary goods 2003
• Transportations of auxiliary goods 2002
• Transportations of auxiliary goods 2001

• Letters of thanks

• Assignment
• Children help children

• Medical help
• Help for Katja
• Help for Maksim

• Sponsors
• Acounts for donation
• Unsalaried assistance wanted
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