Ukraine sends relief goods for Supertyphoon Yolanda victims

UKRAINE has come to the aid of hundreds of thousands of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) victims, bringing in relief goods through an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo freighter from Kiev direct to the Mactan Air Base in Cebu.

Butrymovych Mychailo Konstyantynovych, deputy director of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, led the Ukrainian delegation that brought in 15,390 blankets; 8,338 water-purification filters; 6,144 tins of stewed beef; 3,456 disinfectant tablets; 500 mattresses; 500 pillows; and 21 electric generators with lighting equipment and cable network.

Ukraine sent in the assistance, which was received by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as dissidents staged marches and rallies in Kiev to demand the ouster of the government and the election of a new leader.

On the other hand, the International Medical Corps (IMC) has given $28,470 worth of medical supplies, comprised of water-purification tablets, water bags and other medical items.

“Part of the donations were provided by our partners, such as the MAP International, Heart to Heart International and AmeriCares,” said Marin Tomas, IMC’s Global Logistics manager. Tomas added that IMC is also purchasing medicines locally to supplement those that they brought in.

The group has also sent medical teams to Tacloban City and Tanauan in Leyte, Guiuan in Eastern Samar, and Roxas City in Capiz, as well as to evacuation centers in Cebu to attend to victims needing medical help.

“This is in partnership with Medical Teams International, Stanford University and Harvard University,” he stressed.