With the dedication and effort of Estero volunteers, 520 pounds of bagged litter was collected along Highway 41 during the weekend of Dec 14th. Since October, 1,820 pounds (almost 1 ton) of litter has been collected. The volunteers that helped in this month’s clean-up...
Engage Estero Continues to Support The Efforts Of Ukraine To Keep Its Sovereignty
One year later, the deadly conflict continues unabated. On the morning of February 24, 2022, Russian forces launched a multi-pronged invasion by land, air, and sea in Ukraine. Even as Ukrainian forces made significant ground gains, strikes by Russia against Ukraine on civilian targets exacerbated concern for humanitarian needs in winter.
One year later, 17.7 million people need humanitarian assistance, and nearly 8 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded across Europe. In Ukraine, 6.3 million people are internally displaced, and 6.9 million people are sheltering in place. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reports that from February 24 to December 26, 2022, 6,884 civilians in Ukraine were killed and 10,974 injured. The real numbers are likely much higher.
A year of war has caused widespread destruction, reducing some cities to rubble, damaging or destroying hundreds of thousands of homes and critical infrastructure, and leaving millions with limited or no access to electricity, water, or heat. Many people live either in collective centers or damaged buildings, without basic needs for daily life, and are vulnerable to various health threats. Internally displaced persons living in collective centers are most at risk, with the majority being women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Overall, an estimated 14.5 million people in Ukraine need health assistance.