Supplies of critically needed fire and rescue clothing, rescue gear, thermal imaging camera, medical donations and defibrillators have again been successfully delivered to Europe from Australia by the AFUO’s International Coordination of Medical Aid for Ukraine sub-committee (ICMAU).
Working with the Australian Defence Force, 61 pallets of donated goods from Australian hospitals, medical suppliers, emergency response providers and ordinary donors were flown to Poland, and have now been picked up and delivered into Ukraine.
“From the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have focused on providing practical aid, mainly requested medical supplies, delivered to where it is most needed. We speak almost daily to the health authorities in Ukraine, hospitals and to medical teams providing services on the ground near the front line, ” said Dr Liz Paslawsky, ICMAU Chair.
“Our UK supply chain partners, UK4UA, and Wheels of Victory in Ukraine, work 24/7 on the difficult process of delivering aid to the priority areas of need. Getting into Ukraine, and then into hospitals and the front line, is not easy. But that’s our point of difference compared to the global aid programs,” she added.
The ICMAU, and the AFUO Humanitarian Aid team who raise funds for humanitarian aid for civilians in Ukraine and non-lethal aid for defenders, are now seeking financial donations to source aid in Europe during the winter period.
“Our next airlift to Ukraine won’t depart until January 2023. In the meantime, we will focus on buying desperately needed items overseas, and delivering them to Ukraine through our existing road-based supply chain networks,” said Dr Paslawsky.
“If Australians want to help Ukraine survive this bitter winter, made all the harder by the devastation wreaked by Russia on Ukrainian energy and water supplies, they can donate to the AFUO’s charity, the Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
“Ukrainians are strong, resilient and determined to withstand Russia’s brutal assault. But they need our help. And we know how to help them,” said Dr Paslawsky.
