A journey continues....

Last time we left you we had not yet delivered the medical aid. That changed the following day. Again, after an early start, we arrived at the hospital in Marhanets, which was damaged in bombing. It is also directly opposite the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that was damaged due to shelling, which we could see across the Dnipro river. We have taken iodine tablets to protect ourselves from radiation, in case needed.

I can't express how good it felt unloading all the equipment and medication that we were able to take. This was no easy task with many heavy items, including whole hospital beds. The doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff and ourselves all worked together. 

Unfortunately Fiona had a small fall, but she was treated with much kindness and speed by the hospital staff. It was an emotional farewell to our new-found friends.

We finished at the hospital at about 13:00

You would think this would be enough for a day ...

We drove on to Zaporizhzhia, in order to meet an influx of refugees arriving from the war torn areas, including Kherson, Melitopol, Donetsk, Mariupol and Berdiansk - about 1000 per day. I could not believe some of the greetings and hugs of families reunited. Organisations who make a difference were there, like World Central Kitchen. A shout out to Elizabeth P, our translator, and Natalia the coordinator of an organisation called Artuk, who helped the refugees get ready for the next leg of the journey. 

With  MAD organisation fully involved, the vans that had previously been loaded with humanatarian aid were now filled with refugees, wanting to find safety and shelter. We finally arrived at a safe house, run by the Baptist church, with about 35 refugees at 22:00. We settled them in and went on to our accommodation, some 16 hours after we started the day. We were exhausted. However one of the refugees in the van had been on the road for 24 hours plus  with othes, fearful for their lives.

And so on to today. Various refugees wanted to go to different drop off points, some along the route to Lviv and some to Kyiv. Fiona and I drove and supported the 8 individuals (and a cat) who wanted to go to Kyiv. So, after another 8 hours drive, we arrived in Kyiv, where some were reunited with family. Again, very draining and emotional.

And that's it really. In due course we will drive back to Lviv. But that's not really it. We are physically and emotionally drained just now, but this will pass. This about individuals coming together with a sense of purpose, identifying need and then helping in whatever small way they can, to make a difference. A more disparate group of individuals you are unlikely to find....

And about the refugees, whose story this really is. A story that will continue for a while. We are humbled to be part of it. But we're also immensely proud of what we, with many others, were able to achieve.

And again to finish on a more whimsical note, driving through a village, we saw a man on a bicycle with a cow on a lead taking it on a walk. You can't make it up.

Finally just wanted to share some photos of the beauty of Kyiv.

 If  you are able to support financially what we are doing please with a donation, then please see below.

PayPal. Open PayPal and, when asked for name of payee or email, enter trawden4ukraine@hotmail.com. 

The collection box in Trawden community shop....still difficult for our American/Canadian friends.

Kind regards, Bob and Fiona.