Ukraine is Calling: New Fundraising Campaign Aims to Raise €10m for 100 Emergency Vehicles

LUkraine asbl has launched a new national fundraising campaign under the name "Ukraine is calling", with the aim of raising enough money to purchase 100 emergency vehicles for Ukraine.

As LUkraine asbl Vice President Inna Yaremenko told Chronicle.lu, one of the media partners of this campaign, this is the first step in an international campaign based on the simple message that Ukraine is calling for help – will the public answer its call? Inna recalled that Russian aggression against Ukraine is ongoing and the latter will require years of support from the international community both during and after the war. At present, ambulances and fire engines are particularly in high demand in Ukraine, as hundreds of hospitals and emergency vehicles have been damaged or destroyed by Russian air strikes.

Like the campaign message, the goal is clear: to collect enough money to buy 100 much-needed emergency vehicles. Inna noted that one new, fully equipped ambulance costs approximately €100,000; the cost rises to about €300,000 for a new, fully equipped fire engine. As such, the goal is to raise €10 million to be able to afford 100 of these vehicles in the coming months. However, LUkraine asbl is also accepting donations of used emergency vehicles as part of this campaign. For instance, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (Corps grand-ducal d'incendie et de secours – CGDIS) have pledged to donate about eight used vehicles.

The "Ukraine is calling" campaign builds on LUkraine asbl's existing initiatives and partnerships, such as the UAmbulance project (thirteen ambulances sent to Ukraine since the invasion began in February 2022) and the non-profit's memorandum with the Donetsk regional administration (agreeing to send fire engines to the region), but also reflects the increasing need for such vehicles – a reality conveyed to LUkraine asbl by its partners in Ukraine, with whom the non-profit is constantly in contact. These include the two main beneficiaries of this campaign: the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

With the money raised through this campaign, LUkraine asbl will purchase the emergency vehicles from across Europe. The vehicles will then be sent directly to the aforementioned beneficiaries. The idea is not just to replace the emergency vehicles that have been destroyed but to ensure that Ukraine has even more vehicles available as the war rages on. "We understand that the demand is huge", noted Inna. "People are dying not from the bombing but because they don’t have first aid. […] In many regions, the situation is critical".

Inna added that the idea behind the campaign was to have a "simple and clear concept […] to help our everyday heroes who risk their lives trying to save Ukrainians. It is our duty to help them". She noted that there is enough personnel (emergency workers) at present, but the equipment and facilities are lacking. LUkraine asbl has been able to track the ambulances it already sent to Ukraine, as part of the UAmbulance project, and has seen how these have helped save lives. "This gives us more courage to continue", said Inna.

LUkraine asbl has also enlisted the services of a reputable Luxembourgish auditing firm to take care of the finances and ensure transparency, and all the vehicles will be on show in Luxembourg before being driven to Ukraine in a convoy and handed over to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and the State Emergency Services. "It is very transparent. We collect money here, buy the ambulances and fire engines – or someone donates them", confirmed Inna. She added that the campaign relies on the support of several partners in Luxembourg to increase its visibility. "We understand the interest in Ukraine is changing a lot in the last months. People came back after their vacation and already forgot. But we cannot forget or give up because in Ukraine, we are on the frontline, and we fight for [...] the common future of all of Europe. We just ask to help us a bit", Inna elaborated. Returning to the main campaign message, she added: "Ukraine is calling. Don't decline the call, and save lives".

The national fundraising campaign has the support of major Luxembourgish media outlets (including Chronicle.lu), as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs, the CGDIS, the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, the European Commission and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium. Various embassies in Luxembourg, as well as Ukrainian communities in different countries around the world have also expressed their interest and support. As Inna explained, LUkraine asbl will use the concept as a platform for fundraising for other projects in the future, working together with various local and international partners.

"We understand it's a big challenge but we believe that people are generous and understand the situation and will donate and continue to support Ukraine", concluded Inna. "We are very appreciative of Luxembourg's support already since the beginning of the invasion but we have to continue this support".

To support the "Ukraine is calling" national fundraising campaign, visit https://ukraineiscalling.com/ or donate via Facebook. Various fundraising events are also in the works as part of this campaign.

Alongside this fundraising campaign, which offers humanitarian aid to people in Ukraine (one part of the non-profit's mission), LUkraine asbl is continuing its activities aimed at supporting Ukrainians in Luxembourg (the other part of its mission), such as offering psychological support and language courses and the newly reopened Ukrainian school for refugee children on Saturdays.