Sewa International, the US-based charitable non-profit organisation with links to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has launched a helpline to help evacuate international students stranded in Ukraine by arranging for transportation to the nearest border check post along with providing food and other essential supplies for their journey.
Sewa International already has over 4,000 students registered in its helpline, and in a statement released on Monday, its volunteers are making arrangements to help evacuate another 400.
Sewa Europe and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) are currently working in ten Ukrainian cities to help Indian students and Sewa International also released funds USD 10,000 for the Ukrainian relief efforts and started a Facebook fundraising campaign as many people are caught in this humanitarian crisis, the release said.
https://twitter.com/sewausa/status/1498727151364808704
Arun Kankani, President, Sewa International, USA said, The messages and videos we are getting from the war zone show the fear, anxiety, and danger people are facing as they run to safety. As the global Sewa network rises to face this challenge, I request people to support Sewa International in this rescue effort.
“The war between Russia and Ukraine has affected all people in the region and caused serious distress in a world that is still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sewa International in the USA, and HSS volunteers in Europe, the US, and India are receiving hundreds of messages seeking help from people who are stuck in the war zone,” he explained.
According to official estimates, there are over 18,000 Indian students studying in universities across Ukraine and many were left stranded once the Russia-Ukraine conflict started and are in dire need of transport and shelter.
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv had advised these students to reach the western borders of Ukraine from where students can cross over to Poland, Romania, or Hungary and board Air India flights specially operated by the Indian government to reach India.
