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Transcript/Script
USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Ukraine Volunteerism & Charity TV))
HEADLINE: Giving for Ukraine’s Victims Slows Even as War Intensifies
TEASER: U.S. has pledged $1 billion in humanitarian aid. Can more be done?
PUBLISHED AT: 04/20/2022 at 9:20 am
BYLINE: Veronica Balderas Iglesias
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Arlington, Virginia
VIDEOGRAPHER/VIDEO EDITOR: Veronica Balderas Iglesias
SCRIPT EDITORS: TD, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AP, see script for others
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: BR/TD
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
UPDATE: Radio Tracks for Reversioning Included
((TV INTRO))
[[As Russia doubles down on its war on Ukraine, the country’s humanitarian needs are growing exponentially. Trouble is, U.S. charities are seeing a slowdown in donations at the same time. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias looks at how these nonprofits and their volunteers are adapting.]]
((WEB LEAD))
[[As Russia doubles down on its war on Ukraine, the country’s humanitarian needs are growing exponentially. Trouble is, U.S. charities are seeing a slowdown in donations at the same time. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias looks at how these nonprofits and their volunteers are adapting.]]
((NARRATOR))
Volunteering is a priority for Vladyslav Shpakov, who immigrated from Kyiv in 2016.
As the co-owner of a residential moving company, Shpakov spends around $400 a trip transporting donated goods from Virginia to Delaware.
Their ultimate destination: his home country, Ukraine.
((Vladyslav Shpakov, Transports Donations for Ukraine))
“We are losing some money because we still need to pay for the gas, and you know, we have employees. / But we are Ukrainian, and we need to do something to try to help.”
((NARRATOR))
It takes helping hands, cash and in-kind donations for U.S.-based charities to reach
Ukrainians in need.
((Mandatory cg: AP))
And Russia’s intensified attacks makes matters worse.
As the war drags on, donor interest is slowing while humanitarian needs climb.
Charities are rethinking their strategies.
[[RADIO INTRO: Mariya Soroka is the co-founder of Razom for Ukraine]]
((NARRATOR))
((Mariya Soroka, Razom for Ukraine Co-founder))
“There are many warehouses all throughout the United States,
((Mandatory cg: Razom for Ukraine)) and I think people are now realizing that they need to focus on what they are accepting and in what capacity. We are focusing on tactical medicine.”
((Mandatory cg: Port Authority of Seattle))
((NARRATOR))
Unless donated goods are worth more than shipping costs, some charities aren’t bothering to send them overseas.
((Mandatory cg: World Central Kitchen))
Donations are used to help the local economy, too, when possible - says the founder of U.S. based World Central Kitchen, Chef Jose Andres (speaking to VOA from Kyiv).
His team mobilizes restaurant workers to serve up fresh meals to Ukrainians.
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
((Jose Andres, World Central Kitchen Founder (in Spanish) ))
“If we import all the food, we’ll make the farmers even poorer./The idea is to act and to buy locally.”
((Si traemos toda la comida de fuera, hacemos que los agricultores en Ucrania sean mas pobres./La mentalidad de vamos actuar y a comprar local.))
((Mandatory cg: AP))
((NARRATOR))
The European Union has allocated 143 million euros
((Mandatory cg: AP))
for people affected by the war.
((Mandatory cg: AP))
In March, the Biden administration announced an additional $1 billion for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. Some think more could be done.
[[RADIO INTRO: NOVA Ukraine’s director Igor Markov says more could be done]]
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
((Igor Markov/Nova Ukraine Director))
“There are different ways to spend the money, and if you try to cover them all this is not going to be enough for refugees. / I think at the level of, you know, government, the best thing to do is supply large amounts of food or medicine.”
((Mandatory cg: GlobalGiving/Remar Occidente))
((NARRATOR))
When it comes to individual donors, the non-profit
((Mandatory cg: GlobalGiving/Fondazione La Stampa))
GlobalGiving says there’s a certain slowdown of support.
[[RADIO INTRO: Sandrina Da Cruz is GlobalGiving’s Director of Disaster Response]]
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
((Sandrina Da Cruz, GlobalGiving Director of Disaster Response))
“This is turning into one of the fastest-growing refugee crises, and there’s a lot of concern for what does it look like in the longer run for us to continue to support refugees.”
((NARRATOR))
Boris Levonenko, who was born in Kharkiv, remains optimistic that altruism will prevail.
Gathering medical supplies for his former countrymen makes him feel better, even if he loses some business at his auto repair shop.
((Boris Levonenko, Auto Mechanic))
“I have to be at the shop and run the business. Unfortunately, I can’t do it. / We can make money later, after we win!”
((Veronica Balderas Iglesias, for VOA News, Arlington, Virginia)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateApril 20, 2022 09:47 EDT
BylineVeronica Balderas Iglesias
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English