World Jewish Relief has established a major pipeline to get humanitarian aid into Lviv in western Ukraine via Poznan in Poland for the most vulnerable people struggling to survive.
The aid is in addition to relief items, procured in Ukraine itself, which WJR have been funding for 29 local partners to swiftly meet communities’ urgent needs since the Russian invasion began.
Last week the first mass shipments arrived in the country. They have been distributed to civilians in need.
The operation is being led by an in-country logistics lead and WJR’s humanitarian team.
Getting humanitarian relief into an active conflict zone is not simple. WJR has had to overcome customs red tape, long-haul logistic complexities and sourcing challenges. The charity is however confident for now the route established is effective.
Given the volume needed, WJR is purchasing items from across Europe and the UK.
They are working with the largest supplier to the UK military and UN food programmes to procure daily food parcels that will feed families for a day, as well as larger boxes for a week.
Other companies including in Poland and Spain are supplying WJR with weekly food parcels and hygiene packs.
One of the world’s leading specialist medical companies is supplying medicines.
Everything WJR is providing is in response to civilians’ most urgent needs and in many cases a direct response to our partners’ requests.
All medication is individual clients’ prescription medication, requested by partners as they are unable to access them in the country. They include inhalers, insulin and epilepsy tablets.
WJR has committed to shipping into Ukraine, and distributing 42,000 ration packs, designed for those on the move, providing 2,300 calories per day and offering three meals for one person over a 24-hour period. There is also 37,023 weekly ration packs designed for those who are staying within Ukraine. And there is £200,000 of critical medicines including pain relief, anti-infectives, inhalers, insulin, epilepsy tablets and rehydration salts.
In addition there has been shipment of 2,500 mixed boxes of toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, anti-septic wipes, soap, incontinence pads, and protective bed under pads. These packs are particularly targeted to meet the needs of older people and women.
Distribution is well underway. So far ration packs have reached people in Dnipro, Kiev, Kharkiv, Poltava and Sumy.
The Head of Humanitarian Programmes plans to visit Lviv next week to oversee large deliveries due to arrive.
Donations: www.worldjewishrelief.org/ukrainecrisis
