UK to donate fleet of ambulances to Ukraine

By Muhammad Mussa

LONDON (AA) - The British government announced Wednesday that it will supply a fleet of ambulances to Ukraine.

Around 20 ambulances will be sent to the conflict-stricken east European nation, where healthcare services have been stretched to the breaking point since Russia launched its war.

“The UK government has stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and provided them with the lifesaving medical equipment they need,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid.

“The invasion has damaged key medical infrastructure, and the generous donation of four ambulances by the South Central Ambulance Service will ensure people in Ukraine can receive urgent care. It marks the first of many ambulances the UK government and the NHS is donating to Ukraine in the coming days,” Javid added.

The first batch of ambulances, donated by the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), will be delivered this week to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. Further donations from other NHS trusts will soon follow.

The donation, which forms part of the government’s humanitarian package to Ukraine, will replace those Ukrainian ambulances lost during the Russian war.

“We have sadly seen day after day the horrific impacts of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s cruel war on the people of Ukraine, including evidence of appalling acts by Russian troops in towns such as Irpin and Bucha,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.

“The UK has been among the biggest aid donors, providing food, medicines and generators to help those affected. These world class NHS ambulances will now help bring lifesaving care directly to those injured in the conflict,” she added.

This latest donation comes in addition to the nearly £400 million ($522 million) pledged by the UK to Ukraine, of which £220 million ($287 million) is used for humanitarian aid.

The UK has donated 5.29 million items of medical supplies to Ukraine, including 3,000 adult resuscitators, 220,000 wound care packs, 380,000 packs of medicines including antibiotics and painkillers and 1,600 pieces of equipment for ventilators.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which started on Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with the European Union, US and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,480 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,195 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4.24 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.