INTERNATIONAL Development Minister Carolyn Labey has paid tribute to Islanders’ generosity as funds sent to help relief efforts in Ukraine topped £2.7 million.
Donations to the Bailiff’s Ukraine Appeal have reached £1 million, matching the government’s decision to donate the same amount from public finances, and adding to the £700,000 contributed directly from the Jersey Overseas Aid budget.
Highlighting the use of Jersey funds within Ukraine to supply essential equipment in humanitarian relief – including thousands of trauma kits for medical personnel, dozens of incubators for babies and hundreds of oxygen concentrators – Deputy Labey said that the targeted relief had been co-ordinated with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, the United Nations and other partners.
She also pointed to the fact that Jersey was one of the first donors to send Ukrainian women on training courses in explosive ordnance disposal through a partner organisation, Friends of Ukraine-EOD.
‘It is incredibly humbling to read the extraordinary stories of these brave women who have volunteered to rid Ukraine of huge amounts of lethal unexploded weaponry, and a source of pride that our Island has been amongst the first to equip these women to undertake a service which will ultimately save many lives,’ Deputy Labey said.
According to Jersey Overseas Aid executive director Simon Boas, while donations to the Bailiff’s Ukraine Appeal had slowed, some £283,000 has been provided in the last month to partners operating within the country, including support to continue the training in mine clearance which will enable ten more women from charities and the emergency services to benefit.
‘Additional funding has also been provided for psycho-social care for Ukrainian refugees, maternity kits, and generators to help people keep warm in the upcoming winter,’ he added.
Deputy Labey praised the efforts of Jersey Overseas Aid as the Island’s official, publicly funded relief and development agency, adding that it was thanks to the people of Jersey and the support of the government that it was able to respond to crises by providing funding to approved partners to deliver support quickly and effectively.
