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Second batch of aid for Ukraine, volunteer doctors plan new mission

ÅÈÅËÏÍÔÅÓ ÃÉÁÔÑÏÉ ÊÕÐÑÏÓ ÁÐÏÓÔÏËÇ ÑÏÕÌÁÍÉÁ ÐÑÏÓÖÕÃÅÓ ÁÐÏ ÏÕÊÑÁÍÉÁ

The second batch of humanitarian aid for Ukraine will be dispatched later on Tuesday, commissioner for the citizen Panayiotis Sentonas said.

Speaking to Trito, he said the shipment concerns 70 tonnes of medicines, food, personal hygiene items and protective equipment collected in Cyprus.

“The aid, which will be given to refugees in need, will be shipped to Romania, close to the border with Ukraine,” he said.

He added that the humanitarian aid for Ukrainians in Cyprus is coordinated by the EU, hence the choice to send the second shipment to Romania after the first one was shipped to Poland.

Sentonas said that so far around €150,000 has been collected in Cyprus after the government opened a bank account specifically to donate money to Ukrainians.

Meanwhile, a volunteer group of Cypriot doctors and nurses returned to the island on Tuesday after providing health care to refugees fleeing the war in the Romanian town of Siret, near the border with Ukraine.

Headed by Dr Georgios Makriyiannis, the mission was carried out by the ‘Volunteer Doctors of Cyprus’ in partnership with “Médecins du Monde” of Greece.

The team consisted of one pathologist, two paediatricians, two nurses and one auxiliary general practitioner.

Speaking to Trito upon his return, Makriyiannis said another mission from Cyprus will head to the Ukrainian border next week. A team of Greek doctors will assist refugees from today until Sunday.

“Our team worked tirelessly to provide care to whoever came to us asking for help,” he said.

“Paediatricians were crucial, as there were many children among the refugees. We brought with us as many medicines as possible in order to respond to every need.”

Makriyiannis added that his team did not have to treat any serious injury, as people with urgent needs were sent to the Siret hospital.

“We mainly had to treat minor injuries and sicknesses, especially among children.

“Moreover, apart from physical issues, we witnessed a lot of psychological trauma among refugees. All of them were incredibly upset, they left everything they had behind and still don’t know if or when they will be able to go back home.”

Makriyiannis added that his team is in touch with other medical volunteer groups from other countries to set up a semi-permanent medical centre on the border, in order to assist as many refugees as possible.

Meanwhile, the health ministry said on Tuesday that authorities in Cyprus are providing the necessary healthcare treatment to Ukraine refugees with temporary protection status.

Healthcare services are provided at the public medical centres (https://shso.org.cy). Their needs for medicine are covered by the pharmacies of public hospitals, it added.

Ukraine refugees with temporary protection status are accepted at the public medical centres with either the confirmation of the Temporary Protection Decision issued by the Asylum Service, or the Residence Permit issued by the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

An estimated 15,000 Ukrainian refugees are understood to be in Cyprus.

 

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