Kyiv, May 12, 2014. – The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), which supports the activities of the Red Cross in Ukraine, suspended its aid in Donetsk after the personnel of the Red Cross had been kidnapped and beaten on May 9, 2014. This was announced by Ulyana Suprun, Director of Humanitarian Initiatives of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), during a press briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
“UWC condemns the abduction and beating of the Ukrainian personnel of the Red Cross and stealing of medicine in Donetsk. Given the closure of the Red Cross office in Donetsk, we are currently reviewing the ways to provide our assistance. When the office resumes its functioning, we will continue our collaboration with the courageous doctors in this city,” said Ulyana Suprun, Director of Humanitarian Initiatives of the UWC.
“Red Cross crews provide medical aid to all victims regardless of the party they belong to. Red Cross activities are under protection of the Geneva Convention, and the separatists’ attack shows their disrespect for international agreements,” added Ulyana Suprun.
In addition to supporting the activities of the Red Cross, UWC together with the Canadian-Ukrainian Foundation (CUF) work closely with Initiative E +, Ukrainian NGO, whose goal is to create a database of Euromaidan events’ victims. “We aim to ensure that activists obtain the status of a victim and further systematic assistance from the state and private philanthropic initiatives will be provided,” comments Artem Myrgorodsky, Chairman of the NGO “Initiative E+”. This database will be available to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and some international organizations.
UWC and CUF also work together with the Maidan Psychological Assistance in Kiev and Lviv to create rehabilitation centers for the victims. “Violence inflicted during Euromaidan and Russia’s subsequent aggression against Ukraine caused people to suffer psychological traumas, both explicit and hidden. The witnesses of these events have acute stress symptoms which may progress and develop into chronic post-traumatic stress disorders,” comments Nadia Golembievska, NGO “Ukrainian Association of Specialists in Overcoming the Consequences of Traumatic Events”. Within the initiative the mobile crews of psychologists visit areas where the Ukrainian army and the National Guard are operating. By providing psychological first aid and talking to soldiers they hope to prevent the development of long-term post-traumatic stress disorders.
