A REFUGEE in Bromsgrove has launched an appeal to send vital medial equipment to help soldiers and civilians injured in the war in her Ukrainian homeland.
During a recent brief visit to her home city of Kharkiv close to the border with Russia, Tanya Tyiko was so horrified by the devastation and injury that she became determined to do everything she can to support the Ukrainian war effort.
Back at her adopted home in Stoke Prior, the retired school teacher is calling on British people to donate medical equipment they no longer need.
“Our city is bombed every day and every night without stopping,” she said. “And new people are being wounded every day.”
Ms Tyiko, who is 65 years old and is being supported by Bromsgrove & Redditch Welcome Refugees is calling for a list of items to be donated.
Items urgently needed include crutches, walking frames, foot fracture boots, emergency blankets and dressings for wounds – even if they need to be sterilised before use.
She added even out of date antibiotics would help the cause.
“This message is from my heart,” she said. “First of all, I would send British people lots of gratitude for everything, but if Ukrainian heroes don’t stop Putin, he would move as far forward as he can, so I think it is our common duty to stop him.”
The medical donations will be sent to a hospital near Ms Tyiko’s home in Kharkiv where Danya Suhokon, who’s 21 and one of her former students, is a medical intern assisting with emergency operations many times a day.
“It is very difficult to describe in words what is happening now in my beloved city without tears,” Danya said.
“Air raid sirens more than 10 hours a day, sometimes you wake up to a siren, go to work to a siren, work and rest to a siren, sleep to a siren… and it is terrible.” he said.
“All my colleagues understand perfectly well that we work in a place where a missile or a drone can fly, but we get up every morning without a drop of doubt and go save people’s lives.”
Danya said injured soldiers and civilians would be extremely grateful for donations that will aid their recoveries, especially antibiotics supplies and vac devices for treating deep wounds.
Email [email protected] if you can help.
