Observation

We went off to the bus and train stations today to do an assessment of the reception and transit for people coming from the conflict areas with by themselves or through some kind of informal or formal evacuation, the bus station was very seedy and no info for arrivals. A bunch of older pot bellied taxi drivers and a rather drunk soldier told us that if people arrive needing help they find them accommodation. I think something a bit more women and girl friendly and with fewer exploitation risks would make more sense,

In the beautiful train station it was a bit more organised with volunteers from the church giving out tea snd cakes and giving people some basic hygiene items. They said the biggest problem was that people coming from the contested areas where there is heavy fighting arrive with nothing. We’ll see what we can do to support these volunteers.

Later I met a Ukrainian contact in a Crimean Tartar restaurant with amazing and unusual food. I’d like her to come and work for us, but I think someone has already snapped her up. She talked through the kind of scenarios she and her friends are planning for.. all of them fairly bad ones. There is plentiful food in shops and markets in Odessa right now, but the closure of the port will be a huge economic blow. Aid the frontlines move closer and routes are cut off, that would have very severe consequences for food security,