INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Stem cells for bone marrow transplants have just 48 hours to reach the patient in need
bound for Russia in response to the Kremlin invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, suddenly getting stem cells to those in need on time
which it first tried in 2020 and which involves a courier from Germany and a courier from Russia traveling to meet each other at Istanbul
insufficient for the needs of 144 million people, which is why Russian clinics and charities have long partnered with foreign donor
registers.AdVitaWithin days of the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Western courier companies announced that they were suspending all
30-50% since February and that most suppliers now require prepayment in full, often leaving charities with no emergency funds
for people but for animals too
threatened due to a drastic shortage of the imported anesthetic Telazol."Our foundation alone uses about 100 tubes of Telazol per month,
enough for 350-380 animals
Last month the manufacturer gave us just 10 tubes
not the only problem charities in Russia are facing due to the war
the invasion, many charities noted a sharp decline in individual donations, as many people were unable to transfer money after major credit
cards and payment services withdrew from Russia
channels through which we can tell people about homelessness and our work," Baibakova says, adding that Nochlezhka had lost as much as
$250,000 worth of donations this year.Bus with charitable assistance to homeless people from Nochlezhka project.Andrei Nikerichev / Moskva
News AgencyAnother shock came from the exodus of Western businesses from Russia, many of which put all their work on hold or even shut down
"It is clear now that the corporate money is gone, at least the money from international business," says Tatiana Zadirako, co-founder of the
Social Navigator foundation, and a former CEO of the Russian branch of the global nonprofit network United Way.A better part of corporate
funding in the Russian charity sector came from international companies
This money allowed foundations to implement scientific, educational and other infrastructural programs for which it is difficult to
fundraise from individuals
Children's charity Podari Zhizn has lost 80 million rubles worth of donations this year due to the exodus of international companies
But the foundation hopes that Russian businesses will soon be able to fill this gap and has already started negotiations with a few
Baibakova of Nozhlezhka said that although they have also lost most of their international partners, their Russian corporate sponsors have
the sector in the next year: "This is not the first crisis I've seen, and so far the situation is quite typical: the first year foundations
are still holding with the budgets that were promised at the beginning of the year, but then there will be a drop."Many charities report
understand that they are the only ones who can save themselves," Zadirako says, explaining this phenomenon
And now more people try to help not only with money but also by volunteering and providing humanitarian help
Nozhlezhka, which helps the homeless, noticed that the number of people coming to their "Night bus" to get a free hot meal doubled in the
And with that, in the heart of the crisis, Nochlezhka still manages to continue providing for the increasing number of those in need
