25 Tons of Medical Aid Bound for Ukraine

More than 1.5 million refugees have now fled the fighting in Ukraine, according to data from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Commissioner of UNHCR, Filippo Grandi, called it the “fastest-moving refugee crisis we have seen in Europe since the end of World War II.”

In addition, 1,123 casualties have been reported, including 364 deaths. These figures are likely to be significantly lower than the actual number, as the casualties are hard to verify.

Temporary humanitarian corridors have been agreed upon so that civilians can flee certain cities in Ukraine. However, these corridors have not come to fruition so far, as shelling has continued unabated.

No one expected that we’d have a war crisis, a humanitarian crisis,” a Ministry of Health contact told a Direct Relief staffer.

In addition, the contact reported, “we need wartime supplies... We are seeing huge numbers of [internally displaced persons] from Kharkiv moving to the west. They have nowhere to live and no food. We are trying to arrange shelter, food, and first aid. Kharkiv has been badly bombed; it is a disaster.”

DIRECT RELIEF’S RESPONSE

• Approximately?65 pallets?of medical aid, including?sutures, insulin syringes and other chronic disease medicines, pain relievers, prenatal vitamins and much more, are currently being built in Direct Relief’s warehouse for transport to?Ukraine’s Ministry of Health.
• A?20-pallet shipment?of?360 field medic backpacks, used by first responders tending to injuries and other medical problems in the field, has?crossed the Ukrainian border?and been received by?Ukraine’s Ministry of Health.
• Another?13 pallets?of medical aid from Direct Relief are in transit to a major Ukrainian NGO. The shipment included?108 field medic backpacks, personal care items for displaced people, 50 oxygen concentrators, a large-scale emergency health kit containing chronic disease medications and supplies often requested after emergencies. The supplies will be transported to the?Ukrainian border, with an estimated arrival time of Tuesday or Wednesday.
• As?insulin?has been identified as a critical medical need, Direct Relief is?dispatching nine pallets of the cold-chain medicine, also for the?Ukrainian Ministry of Health.
• Two hundred 10-liter oxygen concentrators?are also scheduled to be sent to the?Ministry of Health?this week.

ISSUES OF CONCERN

Over the coming weeks, Direct Relief will monitor and respond to several issues related to the Ukrainian conflict.

• Insulin and other cold-chain medications?will be in critically short supply. More than 1.5 million people with diabetes have registered in Ukraine, including more than 12,000 children. Access to insulin for children and adults will quickly become a critical issue. Direct Relief is coordinating with the Ukrainian Diabetes Federation, the International Diabetes Federation, and Life for a Child to address insulin and supply needs.
• Even before the conflict, Ukraine was experiencing a chronic shortage of?medical-grade oxygen. Now, the production and delivery of oxygen to hospitals is being significantly disrupted, affecting hospital care around the country. The WHO?estimates?that demand for oxygen will increase by 20 to 25% due to the conflict.
• Covid-19?was already spiking at the time of the invasion. Now, with displaced communities living in close proximity, a lack of testing, and a full vaccination rate of only approximately 36% among Ukrainians, Covid-19 is likely to spread rapidly and go undetected. In the face of more urgent threats, the disease is unlikely to be a high priority. A lack of medical-grade oxygen will only compound the problem.
• Infectious diseases?are likely to become an urgent issue. Ukraine has the second-highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the region, and drug-resistant tuberculosis is a significant problem. In addition, Ukraine has been fighting a polio outbreak since late 2021. The disruption in access to medications and health services, combined with the displacement of communities, will exacerbate these and other public health issues.
• Pregnant and new mothers, and their children, will be exceedingly vulnerable?as the fighting continues. Access to maternal and child health care is disrupted, and there will be shortages of food and other essential supplies. Damage to gas and power infrastructure, with external temperatures hovering around zero, is also particularly concerning for these populations.

For the latest on Direct Relief's response in Ukraine and surrounding areas, visit https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/ukraine-crisis/