The Irish Red Cross leader has commended the exemplary utilisation of substantial assistance supplied by Ireland by its affiliate body in Ukraine. This assistance has aided Ukraine in dealing with the catastrophic impact of Russian aggression and initiating their recovery process, even as they prepare for a third relentless winter of warfare.
Deirdre Garvey embarked on a tour of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, along with a series of other towns and cities. Here, she met with employees and volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross who have built numerous new offices across the nation to attend the combat and extensive destruction that has lead to thousands of civilian deaths and the displacement of over 10 million people.
An emotional and tangible reaction from the Irish public generated multiple donations and other types of assistance for Ukrainians adversely affected by the large-scale Russian invasion that started in February 2022, Garvey elaborated.
Throughout the first year of the most extensive European conflict since 1945, the Irish Red Cross received private and corporate donations tallying to €42 million. Approximately 10% of this amount is being used to support Ukrainian refugees in Ireland, while the remainder funds a comprehensive support framework for Ukrainians in their home country and neighbouring states.
While acknowledging that her organisation raised the funds, Garvey admitted that they are not experts in understanding the specific needs of the Ukrainians. “The Ukrainian Red Cross are the specialists and they had full access to these resources. This enabled them to swiftly pinpoint people’s requirements and effectively direct aid to where it is most urgently needed,” she said.
During her visit to Irpin, a leafy suburb of Kyiv which became a key fighting spot in February 2022 when Ukrainian troops and volunteer combatants impeded the Russian progress toward the capital, Garvey learned about the evolving operations of the local Red Cross. Their task has transitioned from civilian evacuation amidst firing and bombardment to offering psychological support and mending damaged residences.
Ihor Prokopenko, the Ukrainian Red Cross Kyiv region’s head, spoke about the perilous conditions they faced initially when Irpin was under invasion. Prokopenko and his team played a crucial role in the evacuation of people from the outskirts, including areas like Bucha experiencing conflict, and set up points to provide food, clothing, and first aid for them.
The team went on to develop Red Cross centres in reshaped territories such as Bucha, bringing in humanitarian aid and streamlining their logistics. Prokopenko’s role is not limited to support work; he also operates a 10-tonne truck for the organization.
In March 2022, the consequences of Russian military actions came to light with the liberation of Bucha, revealing a horrifying toll on the local population. A shocking count of at least 419 civilian deaths were recorded, along with multiple instances of torture and rape.
Mykola Polishchuk, a veteran emergency neurosurgeon and the country’s Red Cross president, described witnessing such terrifying events as a new and shocking experience. He emphasised the continued suffering in other parts of Ukraine, reflecting the urgency for psychological and social sustenance to cope with the deep psychological effects.
Founded in 1918, the Ukrainian Red Cross is Ukraine’s largest humanitarian body. The full-scale invasion by Russia necessitated a massive increase in response efforts. Currently, they operate 200 branches in unoccupied Ukrainian regions, employing around 5,000 workers and 8,000 volunteers.
Ms Garvey acknowledged the impressive leadership shown amidst the crises, and the extraordinary advances made. In 2021, the Kyiv region had only five district branches, which has expanded to 30 today, providing a broad spectrum of aid, including child and elderly community events, housing and infrastructure repair, and an emergency response to the missile and drone attacks from Russia.
Vyshgorod, a substantial suburb north of Kyiv on the bank of Dnipro river, frequently finds itself in the pathway of Russian assault drones, which typically approach the capital via the neighbouring Belarus. In the latter part of August, its dam and hydroelectric power plant were the victims of a missile strike.
The local team of the Red Cross in Vyshgorod, possessing unique training in firefighting, also conducts operations for rescue and search in buildings impacted by bombings. In the year 2022, they succeeded in the evacuation of approximately 15,000 individuals from regions that found themselves embroiled in frontline warfare.
In light of the world’s attention turning to the ongoing war and a decreasing stream of charitable funds for Ukraine – such as the Irish Red Cross’s contributions amounting to a total of €921,000 to support Ukrainian causes the previous year – Ms Garvey urged the Ukrainian organisation to ensure the longevity of its projects by maintaining a balance between minimised costs and maximised efficiency.
Addressing the ongoing situation, she remarked, “There are no straightforward solutions as the necessity will persist and the conflict aspect of the situation shows no signs of ending in the near future.” She further questioned, “That’s the primary concern – how will you continue after we’re no longer here? Future-oriented planning is a necessity right now.”