Vehicles, medical aid on the way to Ukraine

TWO vehicles, one packed with donated medication, will soon be helping people in Ukraine.

Medical supplies being packed into a Fiat Ducato which has been fitted out as a front line ambulance, and which will leave for Ukraine on Wednesday, driven by friends Darren Konken and Tom Jenkins. Back row, left to right: Mr Konken, Mr Jenkins and Ukrainian national Olga Turkoglu. In front, Rhiannon Sales and Kerri Jenkins. (Picture by Luke Le Prevost, 30654723)

Richard Myers, from Guernsey Transport Solutions, bought, refurbished and has fully stocked a Land Rover Freelander, which was converted into a first response car and is now well on its way to Ukraine.

He also organised for a second vehicle, a Fiat Ducato, to be fitted out as a front line ambulance with all the associated equipment.

This weekend a team of volunteers – led by Ukrainian Olga Turkoglu – have been packing up donated medication, ready for the Fiat to depart on Wednesday.

Mrs Turkoglu, 35, who works in financial services, has lived in Guernsey for five years, but still feels very close to her Ukrainian home.

She said it was hard to watch the war, and her family could not leave the country. Her mother is in Kyiv, while the rest of her family live in villages to the west of the city, which are close to the fighting.

Fortunately they are able to stay in touch, with regularly WhatsApp calls

She said she was glad to be able to do something to help the people back home.

‘A lot of the roads have been destroyed by shelling and lots of vehicles were bombed out,’ she said.

‘The Russian troops stole a lot of ambulances from the hospitals, meaning doctors could not reach people. That is why this idea is super important.’

The ambulance will not contain prescription medication, but rather basic medications, that are now hard to come by as towns are bombed and pharmacists flee the cities. That includes pain killers, antiseptic, diarrhoea tablets and bandages, as well as a number of stretchers.

Best friends Tom Jenkins and Darren Konken will be driving the vehicle across Europe.

Mr Jenkins’ wife, Kerri, met Mrs Turkoglu at a baby group and they became friends.

The men will drive to Poland, where they will hand to vehicle to the Kyiv Lions Club, who will then get it into Ukraine, where it is needed. The men will then fly home.

Mr Konken said they were glad to be able to help and thanked Condor for allowing free ferry travel, the German Underground Hospital for covering the cost of the vehicle fuel, Skipton for supporting travel expenses, and Aurigny for helping with flights back.