Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center

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Logotype of the Humanitarian Center Logotip Gumanitarnogo Shtaba 02.jpg
Logotype of the Humanitarian Center

The Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center is the largest humanitarian mission in Ukraine, which operates in Donbas. [1] The Center was established on August 6, 2014 in order to provide assistance to the civilian population of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, affected by the War in Donbas. It united the resources of the Rinat Akhmetov Charitable Foundation, all SCM Group's business and Shakhtar Football Club.

Contents

The Humanitarian Center worked across both sides of the conflict region up until February 2017 when authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic prohibited the Humanitarian Center from operating on the territory under their control. [2] The center continued to operate in government-controlled areas and in the "grey zone," but was forced to suspend operations in 2017 when rebels blocked access to the center’s warehouses. [3]

As of March 2018, the Humanitarian Center issued civilians more than 12 million food packages. [4]

Till February 2017 the Humanitarian Center worked on both sides of the contact line. Since March 2017 the authorities of Donetsk People's Republic prohibited the operation of Humanitarian Center on the territory under their control. [5] The Center continued its operation in government-controlled areas and in the "grey zone".

As of March 2018, the Humanitarian Center issued more than 12 million food packages to the peaceful inhabitants of Donbas and saved more than a million human lives. [6]

Foundation mission

In August 2014, the foundation started using the Shakhtar FC arena owned by Rinat Akhmetov.  According to news reports published by the Shakhtar football club, the arena became known as the Arena of Mercy, and the center has helped save over 1 million people to date. [7]  Organisation's 2014 annual report of the Akhmetov Foundation showed that they had organised the evacuation of about 40,000 people from the conflict zone and distributed 1.35m food packages. The report also states that the Foundation espouses traditional humanitarian principles and values: ‘Our role is to fully comply with international humanitarian assistance principles that require efficiency, transparency, independence and strict neutrality’. In 2014, the Foundation's Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center reported that it helped more than 710,000 people. [8]

Since August 2014, more than 39,000 people have been evacuated from the scene of fighting by the efforts of the Center, 11.7 million of adults and children have received food packages, more than 100,000 people - target medical assistance and psychological counseling. Alexander Vishnyakov, the director of the Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center, on the press conference underlined that for 3 years of work, the Center saved more than 1 million civilians in the East of Ukraine from starvation disease and shelling and became the largest humanitarian mission in this territory. [9]

Major humanitarian programs

There are six main directions in the Center's healthcare work: targeted medical assistance, medical kits, cardiac care, medicines for children, rehabilitation of injured children, birth kits. Psychological support is one more direction that continue working trying to help all the civilians of Donetsk and Luhansk region. 250 psychologists were trained in the "War Trauma" course at the initiative of Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center. In 2014-2015 psychological support was provided to 49 000 children and 6 000 adults, the worked in specialized centers, kindergartens, schools, hospitals and public institutions. [9]

Medical assistance

The Center provides assistance with urgent treatment and complex surgeries, rehabilitation of injured children and delivery of medications. This kind of assistance was provided to more than 30,000 people. Over time, the Foundation has focused more and more on children's health, pregnant women, retired people or orphans - they became the priority. Rinat Akhmetov Foundation offers life-saving surgeries and urgent treatments especially for children, like Healthy Hearts, to provide a quick and effective response to crucial medical needs, or like a hearing aid programme. The Center provides pharmaceuticals as insulin, anticonvulsants and asthma medications to all children under 18, living in non-government-controlled areas of Donbas, and internally displaced children who left for the peaceful territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. [10]

In September 2019, 20 ambulances purchased by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation were sent to the regions on the Day of Patient Safety at the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. [11] In general, the project, under which 200 ambulances, procured by the decision of Rinat Akhmetov, will be transferred to children's regional hospitals, ambulance stations and outpatient clinics of rural communities in all regions of Ukraine before the end of the year, was launched in June 2019. [12]

Humanitarian Center performance assessment

The Overseas Development Institute has released a new report “Humanitarian access and local organisations in Ukraine” describing the needs and response of the main humanitarian assistance actors in Donbas, Ukraine. As the most active national foundation in preventing humanitarian catastrophe in the Ukraine, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation was a major contributor to the humanitarian effort in the DPR until February 2017 when the de facto authorities closed down the foundation's network of distribution points. Local actors in the Ukraine were mainly organised civilian groups, but these local actors can not match the scale and scope of international humanitarian help. The one exception to this is the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. Created by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, the richest man in the Ukraine and one of Donbas' most prominent oligarchs, the Foundation has played a crucial role in providing aid for citizens, reacting early to the crisis and focusing on ‘hard’ activities such as the distribution of food and blankets. [13]

After the ban of the Humanitarian Center's activities by the authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic in the territory under their control in March 2017, even Rinat Akhmetov's detractors acknowledged that his assistance was immense and indispensable, and the products from his Center actually helped the poorest inhabitants of Donetsk region to survive. [14]

The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation's activity was highly appreciated not only in Ukraine, but also abroad. Alexander Hug, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Ukraine said: [15] "I want to express respect to those organizations that help civilians on both sides of the line of conflict. For example, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, whose support will ease the lives of those in need. I am glad that they continue to provide assistance".

Ivane Bochorishvili, Deputy Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ukraine, also noted the great importance of the humanitarian activities of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation in Donbas: [16] "The charity foundation has been helping people from beginning of the conflict inDonbas for so many years. In addition, it exchanges information with other international organizations. It is in our interests, because we want people to get the help they really need. What the Foundation does for residents of Donbas is invaluable", Bochorishvili said.

From January 14 to 17, 2019, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation organized a unique exhibition about civilians in Donbas. The exhibition - black-and-white collages from the photo book "Donbas and Civilians", color photographs of destroyed houses and their residents, videos with the participation of children of war - attracted the attention of European deputies and representatives of the Ukrainian diplomatic community. [17] In his greeting, Charles Tannock, the Conservative Party member of the European Parliament, noted that his parliamentary colleagues had a unique opportunity to learn about the conflict in Ukraine and how war affects the daily lives of civilians in its epicenter. Charles Tannock also called the outstanding humanitarian activities of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation in Donbas. [18]

In March 2019, the photobook "Donbas and Civilians" of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation was presented at the London Book Fair as part of the Ukrainian stand [19] ..

Related Research Articles

Donetsk Oblast Oblast (region) of Ukraine

The Donetsk Oblast, also referred to as Donechchyna, is an oblast of eastern Ukraine. It is the most populated oblast, with around 4.1 million residents. Its administrative centre is Donetsk; however, its Regional State Administration has been temporarily relocated to Kramatorsk because of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Historically, the region has been an important part of the Donbas region. Until November 1961, it bore the name Stalino Oblast as Donetsk was then named "Stalino", in honour of Joseph Stalin. As part of the de-Stalinization process, it was renamed as its administrative centre after Siversky Donets, the main artery of Eastern Ukraine. Its population is estimated as 4,100,280

Luhansk Oblast Oblast (region) of Ukraine

Luhansk Oblast is the easternmost oblast (province) of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Luhansk. The oblast was established in 1938 and bore the name Voroshilovgrad Oblast in honor of Kliment Voroshilov. Its population is estimated as 2,121,322

Donetsk City and administrative center of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine

Donetsk, formerly known as Aleksandrovka, Yuzivka, Stalin and Stalino, is an industrial city in eastern Ukraine located on the Kalmius River in the disputed area of Donetsk Oblast. While internationally recognized as in Ukraine, the city is under the de facto administration of the Donetsk People's Republic, which claims it as its capital city. The population was estimated at 905,364 in the city core, with over 2 million in the metropolitan area (2011). According to the 2001 Ukrainian Census, Donetsk was the fifth-largest city in Ukraine.

Donbas Region in eastern Ukraine

The Donbas or Donbass is a historical, cultural, and economic region in southeastern Ukraine. Parts of the Donbas are controlled by separatist groups as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War: the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. The word Donbas is a portmanteau formed from "Donets Basin", an abbreviation of "Donets Coal Basin". The name of the coal basin is a reference to the Donets Ridge; the latter is associated with the Donets river.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk Association football club

Football Club Shakhtar Donetsk is a Ukrainian professional football club from the city of Donetsk. In 2014, due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, the club was forced to move to Lviv, and had played matches in Lviv (2014–2016) and in Kharkiv (2017–2020) whilst having its office headquarters and training facilities in Kyiv. In May 2020, Shakhtar started to play home matches at NSC Olimpiyskiy in Kyiv.

Rinat Akhmetov Ukrainian oligarch

Rinat Leonidovych Akhmetov is a Ukrainian billionaire and businessman. He is the founder and president of System Capital Management (SCM), and ranked among the wealthiest men in Ukraine. As of April 2022, he was listed as the 687th richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of US$4 billion. Akhmetov is the owner and president of the Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk. In 2006–2007 and 2007–2012, Akhmetov was a member of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) for the Party of Regions.

SCM Holdings Ukrainian company

System Capital Management or SCM is a major Ukrainian financial and industrial holding company established in 2000 in Donetsk in the east of the country and since 2014 headquartered in Kyiv. The business is controlled by Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov, who owns 100% of the company shares. In 2011, the group had revenues of around $19.5 billion and assets worth over $28.4 billion.

Donbass Arena Football stadium in Donetsk, Ukraine

Donbass Arena (Ukrainian: Донба́с Аре́на [donˈbɑs ɐˈrɛnɐ]; is a stadium with a natural grass pitch in Donetsk, Ukraine, that opened on 29 August 2009. The facility is located in the center of the city, in the Lenin Comsomol park. With a capacity of 52,518 spectators, the stadium used to host FC Shakhtar Donetsk matches and also hosted some matches of Euro 2012. The final cost of construction for Donbass Arena was $400M. The stadium has been unused and closed to the public since May 2014, due to the War in Donbas.

The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation is a non-profit organization established July 15, 2005 by Rinat Lyeonidovich Akhmetov, a Ukrainian businessman. Mission of the Foundation: "Work for people by eliminating the causes of burning social problems; implementing the best practices of Ukraine and other countries, developing unique system solutions; obtaining the optimal result with every project and action". Foundation has two offices functioning in Kyiv and Donetsk, Ukraine.

Donbass Palace

Donbass Palace is the first 5-star hotel in Donetsk that joined The Leading Hotels of the World (2005), and Ukraine's leading business hotel in 2006 and 2007 according to the World Travel Awards Association.

Donetsk Peoples Republic Partially recognised state in Eastern Europe

The Donetsk People's Republic is a breakaway state located in Ukraine, formed on 7 April 2014 by pro-Russian separatists following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity. It is one of two breakaway states in Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, the other being the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). Since 2014, DPR forces have been fighting against the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donbas War, and have received political and military backing from Russia. The capital city and largest city within the DPR is Donetsk. Denis Pushilin has served as the DPR head of state since 2018.

Russian separatist forces in Donbas Militias and armed volunteer groups affiliated with the Union of Novorossiya

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War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine since 2014

The war in Donbas is an armed conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine, part of the broader Russo-Ukrainian War. In March 2014, immediately following the Euromaidan protest movement and subsequent Revolution of Dignity, protests by pro-Russian, anti-government separatist groups arose in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, collectively called the Donbas. These demonstrations began around the same time as Russia's annexation of Crimea, and were part of wider pro-Russian protests across southern and eastern Ukraine. Declaring the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, armed Russian-backed separatist groups seized government buildings throughout the Donbas, leading to armed conflict with Ukrainian government forces.

Donbas Battalion Unit of the National Guard of Ukraine

The 2nd Battalion of Special Assignment "Donbas" is a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and based in Severodonetsk. Originally created in 2014 as a volunteer unit called the Donbas Battalion by Semen Semenchenko following the Russian occupation of Crimea and possible invasion of continental Ukraine. The formation of the unit started in the spring of 2014 during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine. The unit was initially formed as an independent force, but has been since fully integrated into the National Guard as the 2nd Special Purpose Battalion "Donbas" within the 15th Regiment of the National Guard.

Flag of Novorossiya Flag of the 2014–2015 proposed confederation

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Aidar Battalion Military unit

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Semen Semenchenko Ukrainian politician and military commander

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Humanitarian situation during the war in Donbas

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Dmitry Trapeznikov Russian politician and former Ukrainian separatist leader

Dmitry Viktorovich Trapeznikov is a Russian politician and former Ukrainian separatist leader who served as the acting Head of the Donetsk People's Republic from 31 August 2018 until 7 September 2018.

Timeline of the war in Donbas (2017)

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References

  1. ↑ "The Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center is the largest humanitarian mission in Ukraine". Зеркало недели. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  2. ↑ Oliphant, Roland (March 2017). "Aid group warns of 'humanitarian catastrophe' as separatists seize east Ukraine factories". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2017.[ verification needed ]
  3. ↑ "With aid cut, thousands on "verge of survival in the heart of Europe"". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  4. ↑ "With aid cut, thousands on "verge of survival in the heart of Europe"". CBS News .
  5. ↑ Oliphant, Roland (March 2017). "Aid group warns of 'humanitarian catastrophe' as separatists seize east Ukraine factories". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  6. ↑ ""Донбасс и Мирные": больше всего помощи мирным жителям Донбасса оказывает Штаб Рината Ахметова" Komsomolskaya Pravda v Ukraine, April 17, 2018
  7. ↑ "Sergei Palkin: Arena will shine only when Shakhtar return there". shakhtar.com. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  8. ↑ "Донбасс Арена: Арена милосердия". Телеканалы Футбол 1/Футбол 2 (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  9. 1 2 "Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center".
  10. ↑ "The victims of the war in Ukraine were today in Brussels". 30 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "President's Office reported on transfer of ambulances to hospitals purchased for Akhmetov's funds " Bukvy, September 17, 2019
  12. ↑ "Rinat Akhmetov Foundation handed over 57 out of 200 ambulances to doctors throughout Ukraine" Gordon, August 20, 2019
  13. ↑ "New report details the work of EFC member Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and humanitarian actors in Ukraine" European Foundation Centre, September, 2017
  14. ↑ ""Они тут гуляют, пьют, а мы сдыхаем без работы! А с нас еще требуют плату за коммунальные услуги. Как нам жить дальше?!", - жительница оккупированного Донецка" Censor, April 20, 2017
  15. ↑ "Rinat Akhmetov is the most famous philanthropist in Ukraine" LB.ua, October 1, 2018
  16. ↑ "The theme of Donbas disappears from the international radar, deputy head of the UN Office said" Donbass.UA, August 6, 2018
  17. ↑ "В Страсбурге о жизни мирных жителей на Донбассе рассказал Фонд Рината Ахметова" LB.ua, 16 of January 2019 года
  18. ↑ "В Страсбурге о жизни мирных жителей на Донбассе рассказал Фонд Рината Ахметова" Gordon, 20 of January 2019 года
  19. ↑ ""Донбасс и Мирные" в Лондоне: о трагедии мирных жителей Донбасса рассказал европейцам Фонд Рината Ахметова" Levyi Bereg, 14 of March, 2019
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