In light of unfolding events in the Crimea region of Ukraine, JDC has activated emergency plans aimed at helping the neediest within the Jewish community of the ethnically-mixed peninsula. Today Crimea is home to an estimated 17,000 Jews, mostly located in and around the main urban centers of Simferopol, Sevastopol, Feodosia, and Yalta.JDC has: stepped up delivery of food and medicine to the homes of its elderly and poor clients living in and around the central cities and towns of the territory; beefed up security at its three Hesed social welfare and community centers; activated an emergency phone chain to track needs of clients round-the-clock; prepared appropriate contingency plans in case the situation worsens. JDC is also particularly focused on the need to relieve pressure on Jewish pensioners whose monthly stipends may be suspended because of worsening financial crisis Ukraine-wide. JDC’s overall emergency response in Ukraine during the crisis has included: mobile units delivering food, medicine and other critical supplies; JDC staff and local Jewish community volunteers risking their lives to deliver food packages to homebound elderly; homecare workers spending nights in the homes of their most frail clients; special operating hours to ensure 24-hour care; and emergency call chains and stepped up security at JDC facilities in cities and towns around Ukraine. JDC has a long history of working with Crimean Jews that dates back nearly to the group’s founding 100 years ago. Agro-Joint, established in 1924, created Jewish agricultural colonies and industrial schools in Ukraine and Crimea. Learn more here:http://archives.jdc.org/exhibits/beyond-relief/