The municipality of Assen and the Stand up for Ukraine foundation will have to wait a little longer for the possible presentation of the international Rescuer-City award. The ceremony, which was to take place in Kiev next Monday, has been postponed due to the security situation in Ukraine.
Due to the many Russian attacks, the Ukrainian authorities do not consider it responsible to allow delegations of foreign aid organizations to come to the capital. The ceremony may still be held in about a month.
Assen and the Stand up for Ukraine foundation have been nominated for the honorary prize established by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The award is intended for cities and regions that committed themselves to Ukraine during the war with Russia.
A delegation from Assen, consisting of Ralph du Long, Marga Koomen and Otto Lussenburg, was ready to travel to Kiev when the message came that the meeting had been postponed.
“It is of course a shame about all the preparations,” the organization said. “We will go for the second chance at a later time. A nomination is wonderful, but it does not solve the problems. So we will continue in the spirit of the nomination with help to our friends in Novovorontsovka.”
Since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, the organization has been helping the town of Novovorontsovka, which is located in the southern Ukrainian province of Kherson. The aid consists of numerous goods and resources, such as vans, school supplies, food and financial support.
