It's not very sexy but...

...of all the humanitarian aid we've delivered in the past 33 aid runs, from Kyiv to Kharkiv to Chernihiv to Kherson, the items most consistently requested are incontinence 'diapers' (or 'nappies') for adults. This is partly because there are a lot of older people remaining in the areas most devastated by the Russian invasion - individuals who may suffer from dementia or physical health problems that cause incontinence. And also, because incontinence products are so expensive in relation to average incomes here. For example, a pack of 30 adult diapers costs, approximately,  the equivalent of £15, which is roughly a quarter of the monthly pension in Ukraine.

We don't know what people do if they can't afford to buy incontinence products. We presume they use cloths, as in the old days, which would be even more difficult in areas that have no running water or electricity for hot water.

Disposable gloves are also requested and wet wipes are always invaluable.

Aid from donors abroad always seems to include babies' nappies, which we have seen piled high in some warehouses. But, as a community leader said yesterday in Kherson, there are not so many babies now because it's not a safe place. But in every community we visit there are older people, and also younger people with disabilities, cared for by their families and community.

We work with organisations here and abroad that recognise the need for incontinence diapers, but there never seem to be enough and we often end up buying them ourselves, when requested. It seems the least we can do to preserve people's dignity.

We want to continue aid runs to Kherson, although we are constantly reviewing safety considerations, as well as our physical and mental health. At present, we need a few days rest after a difficult couple of weeks, culminating in Bob tweaking his back yesterday whilst unloading the van.

Whatever we do, any donations, however small, will be invaluable. If

you are able to support, please: 

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

Or, if you live in/near Trawden:

2. Use the collection box in Trawden community shop.

Just to finish, spotted on a street in Odesa today, a novel idea for using an old suitcase!