Aid transport from 24 June – 2 July 2022
Dear friends and supporters of our work for the people in Ukraine, I am back safe and sound after an intensive week of work and experiences in Vinnytsia. Here is my report on our 6th aid transport:
Current situation in Winnyzja and Bar/Zentral-Ukraine:
The situation in Ukraine remains tense. The effects of the war, which has been going on for several months now, can be felt everywhere. While my stay was only accompanied by a few missile alarms, the war is omnipresent and people are increasingly exhausted.
Furthermore, 170,000 refugees are permanently staying in the Vinnytsia region, waiting for the end of the war and the possibility to return home. As the men are deployed at the front, mainly refugee women and children (over 50%) are staying in the region and need to be provided with all the necessities of life. Aid shipments are decreasing and we have also seen a significant decrease in donations.
On 24.6.2022 our 6th aid transport to Vinnytsia started its journey and reached the central warehouse on 27.6.22 without any major problems. On board were about 15 tons of relief goods and we thus reach the mark of 100 tons of relief goods brought to Vinnytsia for refugee centres and hospitals in the last 4 months.
Thanks to the support of the partnership between Klinikum Lüneburg and HGZ Bad Bevensen with the Pyrogova Hospital in Vinnytsia, the equipment with 3 ultrasound heads, 3 vacuum pumps and anaesthetics could be completed to complete the previous aid shipments. The medical director, Dr. Alexander Alexandrovich Zupanov, expressed his sincere thanks and initially reported no further need for the Pyrogova hospital. All ultrasound equipment, anaesthesia workstations and vacuum material for modern wound care for the many injured are in non-stop and often life-saving use.
At the request of the Winnytsia district office, we have for the first time also included the small town of Bar (40,000 inhabitants, approx. 70 km from Winnytsia) in our support programme. Here there are about 5000 refugees, a small hospital (180 beds, provides regular care for about 80,000 inhabitants of the Bar district). In Bar there is also a primary school and a high school as well as a technical school for car mechanics/mechatronics and a centre for agriculture.
Current situation of refugee care:
The refugee centres “Quadrat”, “Diana, volunteers” and the refugee centre “Atom” of the Winnyzja Baptist Church were visited. Here the food and hygiene articles were again received with great gratitude and prepared for further distribution. The 2nd shipment for a summer camp for 50 refugee children (sleeping bags, eating utensils and cutlery) at “Atom” caused great joy.
Since it must be assumed that the war will last longer, food that has a longer shelf life is already being put aside for the winter despite current shortages. Therefore, great joy about 250 food packages for refugee families from schools in Bleckede , Lüneburg and Kirchgellersen.
In Bar, the schools have been converted into refugee shelters. Clothing for the winter is also needed here, especially children’s clothing, but also toys for the refugee children.
Current situation hospitals:
The Pyrogova hospital and the emergency clinic in Vinnytsia reported no further urgent needs at the moment and are sufficiently supplied for the time being. Wound care material was forwarded to the hospital in Kharkiv and an anaesthesia bed to the hospital in Bar. In this way, everything went to where it was needed most.
Practically everything is needed at the hospital in Bar, a “list of needs” was handed over and included in our needs lists. At the top of the list is a mobile ultrasound machine and all kinds of surgical equipment. The anaesthesia workstation was handed over and received with great gratitude by the medical director.
12 Euro pallets were transported for the Matthäus parish in Lüneburg for their refugee care in Kiev.
Planning next relief transport end of September 2022:
Preparations are underway for the 7th aid transport:
- “Food parcels” campaign by Bleckede and Lüneburg schools.
- Shelf-stable food from Handelshof Lüneburg (funding not yet secured)
- Medicines and equipment for hospital in cash according to the list of requirements
- Clothes and children’s clothing for refugees in Bar for the winter
The support of the Vinnytsia region through our relief goods transports continues at a high level. So far, 100 tons of relief goods with a total value of about € 700,000 have been transported in 6 accompanied transports.
Initiation of partnerships:
- Partnership Elementar-Schule Bar with Elbtal-Grundschule Bleckede
- Partnership Gymnasium Bar with Gymnasium Bleckede and Gymnasium Wilhelm-Raabe-Schule Lüneburg
- Partnership Technical School Bar for Car Mechanics and Mechatronics with Vocational School Lüneburg for Car Mechanics/Mechatronics in Lüneburg
- Cooperation project Technical School in Bar, Technical University Winnyzja and Volkswagen AG Wolfsburg
Our special thanks for supporting our last transport go to:
- Andre Novotny and Walter Beck, Stiftung Hof Schlüter, Lüneburg
- Holger Menzel and Aktionsbündnis Ukraine-Soforthilfe, Bürgerverein Bleckede
- Oldtimer-Freunde „Elbtalaue“ Bleckede e.V
- Family Dr. Gert Maichel, Matthew congregation Lüneburg
- Werner Kolbe, Landeszeitung Lüneburg
- Johannes Schwindt u. Ralf Brunke, Handelshof AG Lüneburg
- Dr. Moormann u. Prof. Kuchrzik, Clinic Lüneburg
- Gebrüder König, Trekking König Lüneburg
- Prof. Weiss, Rotarier Club Lüneburg
- Family Beate Bodendorf, Webwork Bleckede
- Family Sabrina Peters, textda Lüneburg
In this spirit, I remain with thanks and best regards
Dr. Ralf-Peter Oelsner,
Operational mission management LHU e.V. in Ukraine)
