About 40 people affected by the tragedy at Crocus City Hall have already gone on a recreational holiday at the expense of the Russian Red Cross (RRC), the oldest humanitarian organization in the country. The RRC compensates each beneficiary 150 thousand rubles for health-improving recreation and sanatorium-resort treatment.
The charitable program of the Russian Red Cross to provide support to victims, their families and loved ones of those killed as a result of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall includes, among other things, payment for sanatorium treatment and health-improving recreation in Russia.
“We informed more than 280 people who suffered as a result of the tragedy in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow about the opportunity to go on vacation at the expense of funds collected by the RRC. These are people who were approved for such a support measure based on the lists that were provided to us by Moscow Government and Moscow Region Government. Already 40 beneficiaries, that is, 20 families, have taken advantage of this opportunity. Applications from 5 more families are being processed. And we will continue to accept such applications from people who, for one reason or another, are not yet ready to go on health-improving recreation,” said Pavel Savchuk, President of the Russian Red Cross.
“After a traumatic event, a person usually experiences loss. The period of grief may be accompanied by changes in psychological and physical states. The stages of grief normally take place in 1-1.5 years. Everyone experiences loss in their own way, based on individual characteristics, experience, environment, and traditions. All these factors influence the readiness of each individual person to adapt and accept the help offered,” explained Olga Kamaeva, clinical psychologist and leading specialist of the RRC psychosocial support service.
Victims can go on vacation using funds collected by the Russian Red Cross in three ways. Firstly, they can receive compensation for the tour they have already paid for. That is, a person could previously pay for his vacation, and the RRC will compensate him for these costs at the rate of 150 thousand rubles for each beneficiary.
“We will compensate people for their paid trip not only if it was planned for the summer of 2024. The victims and members of their families can go on vacation within six months from the date of filing the application, and the RRC will compensate them for the paid tours,” Pavel Savchuk clarified.
Secondly, the beneficiary can arrange vouchers through Moscow agency for recreation and tourism "MOSGORTOUR", and the RRC will pay for the vacation based on the lists provided by the travel agency. The third option is to pay for the booked tour. That is, the beneficiary can only book a trip at a travel agency included in the Unified Federal Register of Tour Operators, and the RRC will pay for this booking within 2 business days.
The President of the Russian Red Cross emphasized: “We compensate for the holidays not only for the direct victims and relatives of those killed as a result of the terrorist attack, but also for the relatives of the victims. For example, a child who has lost one or both parents may go on holiday with grandparents or other loved ones. Moreover, the amount of the compensation for them is also 150 thousand rubles per person.”
Thus, victims undergoing inpatient treatment can go on vacation with 4 members of their family: spouses, parents, children or other relatives. The recreational holiday will be paid for each of them, and not just for the injured person. People who lost spouses, children or parents as a result of a terrorist attack can travel with family members without restrictions on their number: “That is, if a person has lost a loved one as a result of a terrorist attack, he can take relatives on vacation. In particular, spouses, parents, children, and in the case of children who have lost parents, legal representatives. We compensate the vacation for each family member. The amount of compensation is also 150 thousand rubles per person,” added Pavel Savchuk.
Four months after the terrorist attack, more than 500 people received assistance from the Russian Red Cross. Moreover, the applicants received not just one type of support, but several. In particular, 97 families received urgent financial assistance, and 300 families received voucher assistance for the purchase of food and medicine. More than 235 one-time payments have also been made, the size of which varies from 200 thousand to 5 million rubles, and bank deposits have been opened for 63 minor children who have lost one or both parents. Already 49 of them have already received a payment of 5 million rubles. In total, until the end of August 2024, deposits will be open to 74 children. In addition, 2 more families in which children have lost one or both parents turned to the RRC for help in purchasing their personal residence. A detailed report on the implementation of the Charity Program is published on the the RRC website.
Victims of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall and people who lost their loved ones as a result of the tragedy can seek help from the Russian Red Cross through the organization’s website, by email help@redcross.ru or by calling the hotline 8 (800) 234 -07-07. You can also sign up to come to the RRC Public Reception.
