On the morning of 24 February 2022, life changed for the people of Ukraine when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, marking the start of Europe’s biggest and deadliest conflict since WWII.
When war broke out, Medair, a humanitarian aid charity, was the first international NGO to be registered in Kyiv to provide humanitarian assistance. Medair’s programmes include healthcare and mental health support; building and infrastructure repairs; cash assistance; distribution of essential household items and rehabilitating water systems.
Heading to Ukraine, they were aware that more than 17 million people were in need of urgent aid, with 3 million displaced – to date, they have been able to assist more than 50,000 of those.
Medair in Ukraine – stories to share
Medair have had a continuous presence in Ukraine ever since and have grown an amazing team of local staff – amazing, because they are going through this war themselves at the same time as doing work to support people in need.
Another NGO said of the charity: “When the road ends, Medair keeps going.” This speaks of our commitment to helping people who could be forgotten or neglected because they are hard to reach – due to terrain, security conditions or lack of roads.
I’d like to share some insights from our colleagues in Ukraine with you here.
Diana – working keeps my dreams alive
Diana, a Ukrainian working for Medair, clearly remembers the day the war began:
“Everyone here remembers what they were doing that day. I was living with my husband’s family at the time and recall my mother-in-law running into the room, telling us: ‘The war has started.’ None of us knew what to do. I called my mother. When she picked up the phone, I could hear a siren in the background where she was. I had never heard that sound before. It was terrifying, a bit like being in a horror movie. I remembered as a child my mum telling me ‘Heaven forbid that you should ever hear that sound.’ But it was happening.”
“At the time I was working for an international company and they offered to move me and my job to another country. I thought about it but declined. It was already clear to me that I would be needed in Ukraine – and within a few months I was working for Medair.
“So much has changed since the war began. Now each morning starts with me giving thanks that my family are alive. One big difference is that we don’t really have plans like before and everything seems to be on hold. We can’t plan a holiday or prepare for the future with any degree of certainty. For a while, I even stopped dreaming. Without these things to look forward to, it is easy for people to become depressed.
“Working for Medair has really given me a real sense of purpose and I feel privileged to be part of a team of incredible people who dedicate their lives to helping others.
“I feel really proud of the work we do, because every day we witness the cost of war first-hand, interacting with people who have experienced trauma. Everyone has a unique story – and most of those stories are harrowing. It can take its toll, but working for Medair makes me feel alive. I understand that through my work I am helping my fellow Ukrainian people.”
Eline – how day-to-day life rolls along
Eline, one of the Medair team currently in Ukraine, shares a few insights about what day-to-day life is like:
“We hear the sirens at least once a day, so it becomes a strange kind of normal. Anything with a high-pitched sound now sounds like a siren and we’ve become numb to it. It’s a weird reality, when you’re grateful to have finished cooking by the time a siren goes off so you don’t have to leave your food behind and can take it with you to the basement!
“Similarly, when I hear a boom – which is often – I wonder whether it’s an explosion or ‘just the neighbours.’ It’s hard to tell when the soundtrack has been so constant and consistent over the past two years.
“We don’t feel frightened, though. Everyone here seems to have adjusted to an existence that can be summarised as ‘life in Ukraine is normal … until it’s not.’
“That said, there are plenty of bizarre things in our day-to-day that we almost don’t notice any more. For example, one of our local swimming baths has two pools, one of which is now being used as a temporary home for dolphins from the local dolphinarium. I just walk past them and don’t even think about it now!
“We are always adjusting to a new reality. Our colleagues used to go to a particular restaurant for dinner, now all its windows are blown out. And I recall last year that cities were particularly creepy after dark because of power cuts and energy saving curfews. It’s odd to drive through a city in complete blackout – or how much you need a sense of humour when the water cuts out and you have just put shampoo in your hair!”
Marco – helping to bring some joy amongst the sorrow
In the words of Marco, who heads up the Medair team in Ukraine:
“Two years is a particularly difficult anniversary for all of us here, not least because two colleagues from another humanitarian NGO lost their lives this month in an area where we work.
“During our weekly meeting, after having shared the awful tragedy with the team, we also shared a message from someone thanking us not only for our humanitarian aid, but above all the joy and hope that we bring to people.
“That’s the reason why tomorrow we will continue to do what Medair has been doing for two years in Ukraine. Relieving suffering, without expecting anything back.”
Local events to mark the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Saturday 24 February can be found on: https://www.communityworks.org.uk/events/anniversary-of-the-ukraine-invasion/ These include a candle-lit vigil for Ukraine in Brighton, starting at 5.00pm Palace Pier, Brighton and ending at 6.00pm at the Peace Statue, Brighton-Hove boundary seafront.
