Global community helps Russia to fight fires

Tags: World, Russia, peat fires, Society, Commentary, forest fires

17.08.2010, 14:10

Unprecedented forest fires that quickly spread over Central Russia during this summer's record heat wave have urged people from all over the world to help Russia fighting this natural disaster.

The US embassy in Moscow has provided humanitarian aid worth $50,000 to the victims of the fires. Besides that several US planes delivered firefighting equipment to Russia.

The anti-fire department of Lithuania's Interior Ministry has sent a pumping unit, respiratory masks and other anti-fire equipment. Azerbaijan has provided Mi-17 and Ka-32a helicopters.

Serbia has sent to Russia its experienced firemen and rescuers. "We want to help the Russian people who are now facing the most serious natural disaster over the last 50 years" - Predrag Maric, head of the emergency situation department of Serbia's Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Also about 100 rescuers came to the Moscow region from Bulgaria. Besides helping Russians to eliminate blazes the Bulgarian authorities also decided to extend visas of the Russian tourists who had to stay longer in Bulgaria due to the fires. Moreover they invited 6,500 children from the Moscow region to have a holiday on the Bulgarian resorts. It is not excluded that the school children will be able to start their new school year in Bulgaria. The classrooms will be organized rights in the recreational centers.

Among other countries which are also providing assistance to Russia are Venezuela, Germany, Iran, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Poland, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Armenia, Belarus, Italy and Ukraine

And of course common Russian people are also willing to help their compatriots who suffered from the fires this summer.

We hear from Natalya Avilova, Deputy executive director of the International Public organization "Spravedlivaya Pomoshch" (The Fair Aid).

We daily contact many people who are willing to help. Most of them are bringing goods and clothes for the victims of fires and volunteers who are fighting fires. Sometimes we receive donations. We use the money to buy pumps, chain-saws, fire hoses everything the volunteers need. We also give money to the families who are desperate situation. There are also many people who cannot give money or things but who care and simply want to be involved. They are helping us to pack things and to deliver them. For example someone calls and says "I have nothing but a car and I can deliver your cargo wherever you want". Daily 12-15 cars loaded with goods for the victims of fires and volunteers leave our headquarters.

Indeed, all people are equal and all disagreements are forgotten when it comes to facing a natural disaster and other global challenges.

Source: Voice of Russia.