Lending a helping hand... American humanitarian relief to the population of the Tiraspol district (1922-1923)

There were many international charities on the territory of the USSR during the famine of 1921-1923. We observe the implementation of their humanitarian mission in the Tiraspol district, where following two American philanthropic organizations were mainly represented: the American Relief Administration (ARA) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee «Joint». The aforementioned aspect, despite the availability of archives, is still a little-studied problem in historiography. The authors decided to fill this gap by using the documents of the State Archives of the Odessa Region, the Central State Archives of Supreme Bodies of Power and Government of Ukraine, the Branch State Archives of the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Archives of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (N-Y., USA). By early February, 1922, 40 % of the Tiraspol district population were starving because of crop failure and the unsuccessful food policy of the Soviet authorities. By May 1, 1922, there were 57 262 starving people in the district. The population required immediate help. The county relief committee for starving people could not cope on their own with the growing hunger. Thus, it was decided to ask the foreign organizations and, above all, the ARA for support. In May, 1922, the ARA launched its work in the Tiraspol district. By the end of June, 1922, the ARA opened 81 feeding points in the district, where 32 787 children received food. It was also distributed 10 thousand dry rations for adults. The work of the ARA continued until June 15, 1923, when the American organization declared its mission completed. The «Joint» organization worked together with the ARA. Its assistance was directed primarily at the Jewish population of the district. The organization distributed food and clothing parcels, donated coal to children’s institutions, hospitals and schools. First of all, the aid was received by the Jews of Tiraspol, Zakharyevka, Dubossary and other settlements. Orphanages, where non-Jews were brought up, were provided with clothes, shoes, blankets and underwear, etc. A significant component of the «Joint» assistance was the provision of coal by state social institutions. Thus, thanks to the American humanitarian relief, the population of Tiraspol district received invaluable and diverse assistance during the ordeals of 1921-1923. According to the authors’ preliminary calculations, an assistance was provided over 1.5 years to more than 50 thousand residents of Transnistria.

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