Ukrainians in Czechia help overcome flood aftermath

Ukrainian communities are mobilizing in the Czech Republic in doing their part to actively address the aftermath of the floods in the country, said Bohdan Rajčinec, president of the European Congress of Ukrainians (ECU) and head of the Ukrainian Initiative in the country. 

“Right in the first hours of the flood, we at the Ukrainian Initiative in the Czech Republic received inquiries from Ukrainian colleagues in various cities across the Czech Republic who wanted to help,” he said in a comment for the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC). 

Ukrainian activists in the regions of Jeseník, Karviná, Olomouc, Liberec, and other nearby cities reached out to provide assistance, participated in it and offered what food was needed.

The community remained in constant communication with the Czech government’s strategic communication authorities, and Ukrainian organizations sent financial assistance to the accounts of Czech aid collection agencies. 

“Young Ukrainian activists from ‘Holos Ukrainy’ confirmed that they can organize volunteers in [the Czech capital of] Prague if needed,” the ECU President said.

Rajčinec also noted that Kyiv and the Ukrainian ambassador to the Czech Republic confirmed their readiness to provide technical assistance to the flood-stricken country. Ukraine has offered help to all European countries suffering from floods, as reported by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Extensive flooding began in Central Europe on September 13 and continues to this day. Cyclone Boris struck the region bringing sharp drops in temperature, strong winds, and heavy rainfall to parts of Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. At least 21 people have died.