Ukrainians Cope with Bitter Cold

Now, when there is unusual cold in Kiev and the temperature dropped below 10 degrees Celsius, she is keeping warm.

 

[Valentina, Kiev Resident]: 

"It is not my sheepskin coat -– its from my daughter. I also wear a hood from my grandson."

 

Daytime temperatures dropped below -20 Celsius.

 

Five hundred Ukrainians are in the hospital with frostbite and 30 people were killed by the sudden cold weather. 

 

Doctors also advise not to stay in the cold more than an hour.

 

The Ministry of Emergency Situations welcomes Kiev citizens to warm up in the mobile heating station. 

 

One such tent is established in each of ten districts of Kiev.

 

Employee of Ministry of Emergency Situations Sergei usually puts out fires, but from Janury 26th his work of saving people is associated with making tea and sandwiches.

 

[Sergei Illarionov, Life Saver]: 

"Sandwich consist of small amount of bacon and onion. Onion, you know is a vitamin." 

 

During the day, Sergei pours about 50 cups of tea. 

 

On this particular morning about 10 people visited his tent. 

 

It's usually the homeless and people in needy who come here. 

 

And here they can bask in the heat of the diesel stove, eat, and sleep. All this is available 24/7. 

 

People can also get first aid here.

 

Today, Red Cross workers brought warm clothes and shoes into the tent.

 

[Oksana Pyadek, Red Cross Representative]: 

"We have come to learn what is necessary, so that tomorrow we can bring something else."

 

A few people ran here to warm up after sledding. 

 

It's Mrs. Zoya's first time in a tent.

 

[Zoya, Kiev Resident]: 

"I was told that there is such a tent, which I saw on TV, and I decided to come here to look around out of a natural curiosity. Here is warmth. Young people are here for the time being. Oh, there is tea."

 

Mr. Igor had already visited another mobile heating station in the morning.

 

[Igor Verbitsky, Kiev Resident]: 

"I like tea particularly. It is hot, black and sweet, also sandwiches. No one drives you away from here...you can sit. "

 

In total nearly 24 thousand people have benefited from 16 hundred mobile heating stations throughout the country.

 

NTD News, Kiev, Ukraine