During his meeting with the heads of regional municipalities, Governor of Chelyabinsk Region Petr Sumin suggested that humanitarian aid collecting centers should be set up in each regional town and district.

The Governor said, ‘The Georgian troops have destroyed the land of South Ossetia, sparing no one; Our President Dmitriy Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and the Russian armed forces’ efforts helped to restore peace in the area, but the local people are still in dire need of our help. I’m sure Chelyabinsk Region’s dwellers will both provide them with humanitarian aid and take part in the reconstruction of cities and villages.’

The spokesperson for the Governor reports the aid collection will be coordinated by the regional headquarters that was set up on August 13, 2008 upon the Governor’s request. The region’s Minister for Radiological and Environmental Safety Gennady Podtesov, who runs the HQ, says Magnitogorsk and Ozersk are already prepared to provide a long-term home for the Ossetian children where they can rest, rehabilitate, and even go to school. Chelyabinsk is willing to offer the war victims 5,000 square meters worth of housing in a newly connstructed building, while students of South Ural State University will become blood donors for the wounded. Moreover, the region’s Health Minister will coordinate the blood donor centers’ work throughout the entire region. The Finance Ministry has set up a special donations account at a bank.

Head of PROMASS (the Organization of Employers of Chelyabinsk Region) Valeriy Panov is going to coordinate the aid coming from the regional banks and enterprises.