JERSEY must keep standing ‘steadfast’ with Ukraine as the conflict carries on into the winter months and beyond, according to the executive director of Jersey Overseas Aid.
Simon Boas, who recently visited the war-torn country, said that Russia was probably hoping western support would ‘fatigue’ while the conflict continued, and urged donors to maintain their generosity after the Ukraine Week fundraisers came to an end.
Ukrainians yesterday celebrated their country’s day of independence, with many Islanders also wearing blue and yellow clothing to work as part of the week’s activities.
Mr Boas recently returned from Kyiv, where he observed how funds from Jersey were being used to help those affected by the war.
‘Even in a war zone it is important for donors to go and make absolutely sure that the aid has gone where we thought it would go and is doing what we thought it would do, and I was really delighted to be able to confirm that,’ he said.
‘I met lots of different Ukrainian partners; I met doctors, went to different hospitals, saw Jersey’s [donated] incubators in bomb shelters saving babies’ lives and met incredibly courageous mine clearers.
‘I came back not only convinced that our aid is doing masses of good, and inspired by the courage of the Ukrainian people, but also very much with a feeling that the Ukrainians know what we are doing.’
He added that Jersey had so far raised around £2,500,000, with more funds coming in as a result of Ukraine Week.
‘What is wonderful about Ukraine Week is that we are six months into the war showing that we are still standing steadfast with Ukraine, and it is going to be really important as a really hard winter looms in Ukraine that we continue to stand with them into the future,’ Mr Boas said.
This week’s activities will conclude with a Ukrainian market in West’s Centre on Saturday.
‘Even if the war ended tomorrow, which of course it won’t, there are 850 health facilities to reconstruct, there are millions of mines and shells to defuse, there are huge amounts of housing and infrastructure to reconstruct – it won’t end tomorrow and we need to continue our support.
The worry, and I think [this is] probably Russia’s plan, is that the west will begin to feel fatigued as Ukraine drops off the news and becomes just another long-running conflict,’ Mr Boas said.
‘We need to try to keep Ukraine foremost in our minds, but I am optimistic that Jersey will. With Jersey’s innate generosity, but also its own experience of being occupied, I think Jersey will continue to feel that visceral desire to support people just like us trying to lead normal lives in a European country who have been brutally invaded,’ he added.
