Finnish Red Cross delivering medical supplies and aid to the Ukrainian crisis area
The Finnish Red Cross is supporting the medical procurements of the International Red Cross in Ukraine with half a million euros. Medical supplies have also been delivered to the country to support the health work of the local Red Cross.
The need for humanitarian aid in Ukraine is immense. People are in desperate need of health services, medicine, clean water and shelter.
The Kalkku logistics centre of the Finnish Red Cross, located in Tampere, has supplied the Ukrainian Red Cross with a semitrailer packed with sorely needed medical supplies, such as patient monitors, pulse oximeters and bandages.
In addition to the medical supply delivery, the Finnish Red Cross is supporting the medical procurements of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for those suffering from the Ukrainian conflict with half a million euros.
“In this constantly changing situation, monetary support facilitates the procurement of the exact medicines that are needed at the given time. The International Committee of the Red Cross is procuring and delivering the medicines to Ukraine via established channels,” explains Head of International Disaster Management of the Finnish Red Cross Marko Korhonen.
Support for healthcare in Ukraine
So far, the Finnish Red Cross has sent more than 20 aid workers to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries to support the international aid operation of the Red Cross. Sirpa Miettinen is about to head to Ukraine for health care duties, as the latest addition.
“I’m heading out to Ukraine to support the health care programmes of the Ukrainian Red Cross in the Lviv and Zakarpattia areas in Western Ukraine. The Austrian Red Cross has been supporting the areas for a long time, but now the needs in basic health care have intensified due to internal refugees. Many of them are living in temporary shelters,” Miettinen says.
In Western Ukraine, the Red Cross is providing aid such as mobile clinics, home care and psychosocial support.
The aid workers of the Finnish Red Cross are sent on their missions with donations made to the Disaster Relief Fund.
On site, help is delivered by the International Red Cross and the local Red Cross. The aid work in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries will require a long-term approach.
“The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is deep, and aid will be provided for years to come. The best way to help is still to make a donation to the Finnish Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund,” Korhonen points out.
The Finnish Red Cross has previously allocated a total of 3 million euros from its Disaster Relief Fund to aid work by the International Red Cross in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries.
