Press release from March 2, 2022
Since February 24, 2022, the world has been following the acts of war in Ukraine with horror. While the terrible war is in full swing, a humanitarian catastrophe is looming just over 1,000 kilometers from the Swiss border. There is a lack of food, shelter and even medical care. The Malteser Foundation Aide & Assistance reacted immediately and already sent two relief transports to the crisis region.
We, the Malteser Foundation Aide & Assistance, have maintained very good relations with Eastern Europe for almost 30 years, especially with Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine. Through years of medical aid deliveries, a real friendship has developed with the local people, especially in the hospitals and care facilities. We view the precarious situation in the region with great concern. At the moment, we are receiving calls for help from the crisis region at very short intervals. Mattresses, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows and comforters are at the top of the list of needs, along with food. But also power generators, power banks, medical infrastructure, painkillers and disinfectants are urgently needed, as Malteser relief workers, who are currently active in Ukraine and the entire region, tell us.
An enormous wave of refugees from Ukraine is currently arriving in the neighboring countries. In Poland alone, more than 500,000 people have arrived since the beginning of the war and up to 100,000 more are expected every day, mostly children and women. They need comprehensive humanitarian support, from food to shelter to medical care.
With a lot of voluntary effort we organized the first aid transports to Poland and Hungary. There, the goods are delivered directly to refugee camps, and in some cases also directly to Ukraine. The first semitrailer filled with hospital supplies left Switzerland for Poland on February 28, just five days after the outbreak of war. Just one day later, we brought a second semitrailer full of beds, mattresses and other relief supplies on its way to a refugee shelter in Hungary. We are working in very close cooperation with the Swiss Johanniter and are planning another 30 transports over the next few months.
Through our global network, we maintain excellent diplomatic relations throughout the region. We are in daily contact with our long-term trusted partners who coordinate the aid on site. This ensures that the relief supplies arrive where the affected people need them most.
Now is the time to act and stand by the people on the ground. We still urgently need funds to organize the relief transports to Eastern Europe. Everyone can help, whether private individuals or companies.
Please help now to share health and donate to the aid account:
Malteser Foundation Aide & Assistance - Note: Ukraine-Aid
Raiffeisenbank Sensetal
IBAN no.: CH23 8080 8002 1342 9990 5
SWIFT/BIC: RAIFCH 22905
Postal account: 17-692-8
Clearing: 80905
March 12, 2022: Collection day for Ukraine
On Saturday, March 12, 2022 we will organize a collection day between 10 am and 4 pm in our central warehouse at Brägger + Thomann, Embraport A, 8424 Embrach. On this day we will accept donations of materials. Please bring only the following goods to the collection point:
Camp beds, mattresses, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, wool blankets, comforters, pillows, bed linen, terry cloth linen, original packaged food with a long use-by date, infant food (powdered milk, etc.);
First aid supplies, pain relievers and disinfectants, bandages and hygiene items, power banks, radios, binoculars and high visibility vests.
We ask for your understanding that we can only accept clean goods in mint condition.
If you have any questions about the collection drive, please contact Anna Grabowski at charity@aide-assistance.ch.
Thank you very much for your support!
