ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 06. /ITAR-TASS/. A total of 12,181 citizens of Ukraine arrived in Russia’s southern Rostov region between the morning of Thursday, June 5, and the morning of Friday, June 6, the press service of the regional government told ITAR-TASS.
The regional Crisis Situations Response Center, an outlet of the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) has set up an operative steering committee to coordinate the accommodation of people fleeing the neighboring country. A total of 56 refugee camps, known in Russia as “emergency accommodation facilities”, have been set up.
The authorities have accommodated 995 Ukrainian refugees, including 481 children and eight teenagers with disabilities, in fifteen districts of the region.
Migration agencies also said 6,154 visitors from Ukraine were officially registered as of June 6, 2014.
A humanitarian collections campaign has been launched in the Rostov region. The regional government has put up the particulars of the account of a charity fund accumulating the donations.
Situation on Russia-Ukraine border
Officials at the Rostov regional department of the Southern Customs Service told ITAR-TASS the checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border located in the region were functioning as usual.
“We let into Russia all the cars and busses arriving from the territory of Ukraine, and there are no delays on our part,” a spokesman for the customs service said. “As for what is happening on the opposite side of the border, we don’t know the details.”
He confirmed qualitative changes in the inflow of Ukrainian citizens who have crossed over from Ukraine since Thursday morning.
“If you compare it with the numbers of the inbound transport we registered a week ago, there’s been a sharp increase,” the customs official said.
{article_photo:734591:'Refugees fleeing war zone in east of Ukraine offered shelter in Rostov region':'right':'50'}Russians offer help to Ukrainian refugees
More and more citizens apply to the Russian Public Chamber, offering help for Ukrainian residents. The chief of the chamber's coordinating staff for Ukraine, Vladislav Grib, said people offered concrete help, employment, dwelling and other support.
Some called the hotline of the chamber, others applied in person, and much information came through the Internet and was placed on the special website, he said. People can express their wish online to help or find those who is not indifferent and offer help.
The Public Chamber closely cooperates with the Federal Migration Service and authorities of bordering regions to support refugees. "Today support for people in trouble is one of priorities for us," Grib said. "It is very pleasant that Russians are not indifferent and are ready to participate to provide help."