Ostropol is about 45 versts from the railroad station at roionnoe. Before the pogroms, the general population numbered 10,000, of whom 3,800 were Jews. The place had 390 Jewish houses and 90 Jewish shops. 40 percent of the Jewish population were handicraftsmen; then come small traders, and the minor part being merchants and individuals living on occasional earnings. Ostropol has four mills which are the source of income for the greater part of the population engaged in the corn and flour trade.

In former times there were six landowners estates in the neighborhood of Ostropol, where many people were employed. Small trading was quite developed. The prosperity of the estates above mentioned meant a livelihood for the general population, so that formerly there were few needy people in Ostropol. However, after the pogroms took place the entire situation changed. The number of mills and commercial enterprises which existed before began to decrease and negotiations were carried on, on a much smaller scale. Owing to the destruction of landowners* estates, many individuals were left without work and lost their earnings. The geographical situation, also, affects in an unfavorable way the eoonomio condition of the place.

Ostropol is far from other important places and from the railroad station. The roads are very bad and in spring and autumn Ostropol is more or less out off from the surrounding neighborhood.

The pogromized Jewish population has not as yet recovered. During the period of July, 1919 to October, 1930, detached troops, bands of local peasants, Polish, Fetlura and Socolov bands murdered 45 persons, wounded 120 and violated about 130. At present the Jewish population in Ostropol numbers 300 families. 380 houses belong to Jews and 36 Jewish shops carry on trade. Of the 300 families, 300 are in extreme misery. The place has no relief organizations and the population- received no aid from anywhere. Only in the period when Ostropol was oooupied by the Poles did the people receive a one-time subvention of 30,000 roubles from the JOINT, which was distributed by elective representatives from among the neediest.

Children's Institutions:
The place has one Labor School, serving 130 children, of whom about 100 are Jewish, There are 3 teachers. The school is insufficiently supplied by the Narobraz, so that the administration had to institute tuition fees of 10 lbs, to 3 poods of rye monthly. The sohool functions at present, but due to its distance from the center of the town, many children are deprived of the possibility of attending. The lessons are exclusively in Russian. The fee is also too high for the needy population. Owing to these conditions, many Jewish ohildren are unable to attend school. In order to properly carry on its work, it will be necessary to increase the number of teachers in this school.

Conditions:
Ostropol has one Soviet Hospital with 13 beds. It is supported by the Uzdrav (Health Department) and is being supplied very insufficiently.This hospital is not of much assistance to the needy population as it is laoking in medicines. Dr. Kreinerman, a local social worker, is chief of the Hospital. At the same time he gives medical aid to the needy without pay. There is a private pharmacy which is of no assistance to the needy due to high cost of medicines. The sanitary condition is difficult and the population is unable to keep olean for the bathhouse is destroyed and in need of repair. The houses and yards in Ostropol, with few exceptions, have no toilets, and the filth has to flow into the river. Ostropol has only two wells, which are insufficient for the entire population. Consequently the principal part of the population has to use the dirty river water. In order that the hospital might be in a position to serve the needy, it will be necessary to supply it with medicines whioh might be turned over to Dr. Kreinerman. In order to regulate the sanitary question and to plaoe the population in a healthier oondition, it is necessary:

1. To repair the bathhouse. According to investigations of well informed persons, the cost will be 3500 ponds of rye ($750.).

2. To dig three or four more wells. This will cost 500 pounds of rye. (1150).

3. To arrange three or four toilets for general use. Each will cost $130.

Assistance to individuals who cannot work! Two-thirds of the population are needy and are absolutely deprived of any means of existence. They have no food, no shoes and no clothing; in fact, many of them are literally barefooted and naked. Urgent assistance is required. Besides supplying them with commodities, they must be supplied with under- wear, clothing and shoes. In order to extend relief to the 130 needy children it is necessary to open a children's home.

Credit Aid: Owing to local conditions, the organization of a Loan Kassa is urgently required. Tins would not only be of assistance in raising the welfare of the artisans, but of the rest of the population as well. The local people are very much interested in this question and have already taken steps to have the statutes of the loan kassa registered At present there is a grocery cooperative organization known as "EFO" (Evreyskoye Fotrebitelskoye Obshestvo - Jewish Grocery Cooperative). The representative of the JDC in Kiev forwarded 113 food packages to Ostropol for distribution amongst the needy. Such distribution was effected by an inspector of the JDC, together with some of the local social workers who are well acquainted with and interested in the welfare of their constituents in Ostropol, a representative of the Government also took part.

The distribution was made among orphans, sick, invalids and to those others who were in great need 338 families with a total of 775 people benefitted from the distribution. It literally saved the halfstarved population, which expressed its thanks for the generosity of its American brothers and the hope additional help would be forthcoming.

At a meeting of the Jewish population in Ostropol it was decided to express to the Joint in Kiev and to the committee of the landsmanschaft in America, in written form, the feeling of gratitude and thanks for the relief extended.