300+ Evacuations Carried Out So Far as Part of LUkraine Humanitarian Mission

Chronicle.lu recently had the opportunity to speak with Inna Yaremenko, Vice President of LUkraine asbl, about the non-profit organisation's latest projects and activities, namely its humanitarian (evacuation and medical) mission in Ukraine.

As the LUkraine Humanitarian Mission includes contributing to humanitarian crisis relief in Ukraine, the Luxembourg-based non-profit established a representative office in Dnipro in summer 2023 to ensure the project (set to run for at least one year) stays on track and receives proper coordination.

The project is being carried out by LUkraine and the new LUkraine Representation in Ukraine, with the help of their local partner, the CF Center of Salvation of Life. The latter has experience in evacuating civilians and delivering humanitarian aid to frontline zones in Ukraine. The project also receives support from the Luxembourg Government (the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs) and citizens (volunteers), as well as Lions Club Luxembourg, Pharmaciens Sans Frontières Luxembourg asbl, the UK-based Ukraine Charity, Venari Group UK (an emergency vehicles manufacturer) and Special Truck Parts (a special vehicles and equipment manufacturer in the Netherlands).

The aim is to provide medical and evacuation services in the territories that border the frontline in Ukraine. The project encompasses the following activities: emergency medical care and mobile dental services; evacuation; temporary assistance locations; psychosocial assistance and humanitarian aid.

Specifically for those who were evacuated and left without a home, LUkraine has established a shelter that offers temporary access to water, food, medication, electricity, internet and washing facilities. In collaboration with its partners, the non-profit is also assisting in locating permanent accommodation.

In August 2023, a first convoy of emergency vehicles departed Luxembourg for Dnipro. This convoy comprised a medical bus, ambulances, a mobile dental cabinet and a pickup car. The crew of volunteers then proceeded to Donetsk Oblast, a region facing an acute humanitarian crisis, for the pioneering mission.

Inna Yaremenko confirmed to Chronicle.lu that, as of September 2023, 329 medical evacuations had been conducted and 188 people had received dental services as part of this mission. She noted that winter is on its way and the mobile dental and medical services are in "huge demand". LUkraine is thus considering expanding the project to other regions, such as Kherson.

Inna said that the non-profit was "really proud" to have launched this "important" mission. She expressed LUkraine's gratitude to the mission's main donor, Luxembourg's Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, and said the non-profit was looking for additional partners.

The LUkraine Vice President stressed that it was important not to forget the needs of Ukraine as the war drags on and Ukrainians continue to fight for their freedom (and that of Europe as a whole). In addition to supporting the LUkraine Humanitarian Mission, one way to help Ukrainians at this time is by donating to LUkraine's ongoing "Ukraine is Calling" fundraising campaign, which was the Luxembourg winner of this year's European Citizen's Prize. Since the launch of this project in October 2022, the non-profit has been able to send 47 emergency vehicles (including fire engines and armoured ambulances) to Ukraine. LUkraine hopes to reach its overall goal of 112 emergency vehicles in the coming year. Inna Yaremenko also expressed her hope that the European Citizen's Prize would offer more visibility and illustrate the importance of this project, stressing that emergency vehicles are still very much needed in Ukraine.

Other new and upcoming projects will see LUkraine try to address needs such as water access (by building groundwater wells) and for prosthetics in Ukraine - further details to follow. In Luxembourg, the non-profit is continuing its efforts to support Ukrainian refugees through cultural activities (e.g. the recent Ukrainian (UA) Days in Esch-sur-Alzette), language classes and psychological support, among other activities. More information (including how to donate) is available on the website https://ukrainians.lu/.