It has become almost impossible for aid organizations to send goods to Ukraine. The government there has greatly tightened the rules for imports, because too often aid goods end up on the black market.
From now on, relief supplies must be accurately registered and traced. Reason for the Assen aid organization for Ukraine to temporarily halt the transports. “Our last transport left last weekend and they are just now unloading the freight,” says Henk Pruim of the organization.
“What we have heard from Ukraine is that it will be very difficult when it comes to registration. You have to indicate exactly what is in the truck, which is still possible, but in Ukraine you have to indicate exactly how it is distributed and where it is all going.”
And according to Pruim, that is not possible. “Our aid packages go everywhere. A thousand families can be helped from such a truck. Our contact person in Ukraine now has to justify where everything goes and how it is distributed. That cannot be determined within the set time.”
Pruim understands that the rules are being tightened. “It’s all the result of Ukraine wanting to join the European Union, they are tackling corruption. The good are now suffering because of the bad.”
Assen for Ukraine does not stop providing aid, says Pruim. “We are now going to focus more on raising money instead of goods. So that we can buy things ourselves in Ukraine and distribute them there.”