Category: Humanitarian/Medical

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OVER 1,000 FAMILIES IN UKRAINE ARE SUSTAINED WITH GLUTEN-FREE FOOD FOR A YEAR

The World Health Organization estimates that 1-2% of people worldwide have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder resulting from a permanent intolerance to gluten. In Ukraine, according to experts, at least 300 thousand suffer from this disease.

“People can have gluten intolerance and may not know about it for years, and at the same time be treated for diseases caused by gluten intolerance.” explains Dr. Olga Naumova, an allergist, President of the Ukrainian Celiac Society.

Fifteen years ago, Dr. Naumova united families with children suffering from celiac disease and founded the Ukrainian Celiac Society. For the past decade, Dr. Naumova and volunteers have been conducting educational campaigns, explaining the dire consequences of this disease such as diabetes and infertility.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, there was a new, developing market focused on manufacturing of gluten-free foods. Eleven family-run Ukrainian companies produced licensed gluten-free products – four of them are currently under Russia’s temporary occupation and three ceased to exist. Families in need of gluten-free foods, have been facing both a sharp reduction in availability and significant price increase.

A grant from the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) – a joint effort of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, to the Ukrainian Celiac Society is providing around 1,000 specialized food boxes a month for families with children suffering from gluten intolerance over a period of 12 months.

Thanks to the support of our Donors, with this grant we are helping families with children suffering from Celiac disease and support local manufacturers of licensed gluten-free foods.

“For parents of children with celiac disease, it is important not only to receive a specialty food box but also be able to source locally these foods in the future. The grant from UHA helps these families sustain their children’s health and the health of small niche businesses,” emphasized Dr. Olga Naumenko.

Thank you to all who continuously enable a variety of humanitarian aid to Ukraine through the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – do donate, please follow the link www.cufoundation.ca.

Background

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in January of 2022 by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada.

To date, we have delivered over $70 million in food, medicine, emergency shelter, mental health support, surgical aid, firefighter gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators, and many more types of aid, including in-kind donations.

Please click here to read further about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal supports the rehabilitation of war victims.

Many injured Ukrainians, both military personnel and civilians, are taken from the frontlines to the Unbroken Centre in Lviv every week to receive specialized medical care, including reconstructive surgery, physical rehabilitation, and prosthetics care. Since February 2022, Russia has maintained their daily violent attacks on Ukraine, leaving thousands with complex injuries, many of which healthcare facilities in the country are under-equipped to treat.

The National Rehabilitation Centre Unbroken, which is already providing orthopedics services, burn care, prosthetics manufacturing and fitting, reconstructive operations, physical therapy, and mental health treatment to children and adults, hopes to increase their scope. With millions of internally displaced Ukrainians—over 11,000 of these requiring prosthetics—there is a lack of adequate health care in the country able to keep up with the demand.

With a generous grant from the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ (UCC) joint project, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA), the Unbroken Centre will be able to purchase specialized equipment, such as treadmills, treatment tables, and complex rehabilitation systems for their patients. Additionally, the grant will go towards the training of healthcare workers to further their skills in prosthetic care, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation. The training will allow 10 medical professionals to travel to the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto for 2 weeks, while hundreds of others will be given the opportunity to join online sessions related to their respective fields. 

The grant will allow the Unbroken Centre to treat more than 120 people with inpatient rehabilitation, as well as 660 people receiving outpatient care monthly—totaling over 9,000 annually. After experiencing horrific trauma, both physical and mental, thousands of injured Ukrainians will be able to recover near their families within their home country.

Images provided by “Unbroken”

The aid that the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been delivering to Ukraine over the past 19 months is vast and diverse, and is made possible by our steadfast supporters – thank you!

Two fundraisers were held in recent months to support the project “Unbroken”.

On July 15, an event called Art-Edude was held at the Montreal Art Centre to benefit the “Unbroken” Rehabilitation Centre through the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. As a result, $6,200 were donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for this project.

Currently, the City of Winnipeg is holding a fundraiser for Unbroken Centre to mark the 50th anniversary of its sistership with Lviv, Ukraine. To learn more and support, please click here.

We are truly grateful that there are so many caring and generous people across Canada who continually organize events in support of our ongoing projects.

Presentation of funds raised at the Art-Etude event, organized by Eramelinda Boquer, to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for the “Unbroken” project.

Background

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in January of 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada.

To date, we have delivered over $47 million in food, medicine, emergency shelter, mental health support, surgical aid, firefighter gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators, and many more types of aid.

Please click here to read further about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia and donate.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

CUSAP 4th Life-Altering Mission in Poland – 27 patients, 32 operations, 105 procedures.

“Those suffering have absolutely no one to turn to. Ukraine is at absolute capacity,” says Dr. Antonyshyn, founder and head surgeon of the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP).

Unfortunately, Ukraine’s overburdened healthcare system cannot alone handle the immense patient needs caused by the war. They need the help of international partners like CUSAP. The complex injuries referred to our group of highly-skilled medical volunteers require a multidisciplinary surgical team and the latest technology in facial implants.

During this 4th mission held in Czeladž, Poland, 52 Ukrainian patients were consulted, and 27 were operated on. During one week, the team performed 32 surgeries, which included 105 procedures: craniofacial, orthopedic and hand / peripheral nerve.

The surgical missions are specifically designed to address craniofacial trauma, soft tissue trauma, upper and lower extremity reconstruction and burn reconstruction. 

The heart and soul of these missions is the multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anesthetists, intensivists, nurses, administrative staff, and other specialties, including psychologists and an occupational therapist. This is a well-rounded team of incredibly skilled professionals who continuously volunteer their time and expertise to treat those severely injured in Russia’s unprovoked, genocidal war on Ukraine.

“It is such a privilege to be able to help these people. They deserve all the help we can give”, said Dr. Chris Graham, an orthopedic surgeon.

Photos credit: Andrey Syrko

The hardest part of every mission is the goodbyes when we see patients being repatriated back to Ukraine. Over the course of their treatments, they become friends and family, leaving an impact on the hearts of each member of the team. The heartfelt gratitude of these patients leaves a mark that lasts a lifetime. “We had love. Now, thanks to you, we also have health”, said the wife of one of the patients.

Photos credit: Andrey Syrko

Over the 4 surgical missions held in Poland – September 2022, November 2022, April 2023 and September of 2023:

  • 95 patients operated on
  • 110 surgeries performed
  • 331 procedures
  • 14 microvascular free tissue transfers

We are very grateful to all who continuously support CUSAP’s life-altering surgical missions. We would like to extend a special thanks to the two anonymous donors of $200,000 CAD and $75,000 USD, who supported this latest mission – thank you sincerely on behalf of the 27 patients who now have a chance at a better quality of life!

Our next surgical mission is planned for the early part of 2024. Please consider supporting this vital project of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation by donating at www.cufoundation.ca.

Background

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine.

Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) is a humanitarian surgical aid initiative established by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation together with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 2013 that provides life-changing care to patients affected by the war in Ukraine. The surgeries have significantly improved the quality of life of Ukrainians who undergo the operations.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

CUSAP missions restore hope for a better-quality life.

It has been nineteen months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in an almost 10-year-long war. Thousands of lives have been lost, and thousands are forever changed by injuries sustained either on the battlefield or while simply waiting for a bus or turning in for the night. During the twenty-first century, in the heart of Europe, this is the reality of millions in Ukraine.

Surviving a mine blast or a missile attack is a blessing, but it is also the beginning of a long and painful journey to recovery. Veterans and civilians with craniofacial, head and neck, and orthopedic injuries who cannot be further helped in Ukraine are referred to the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP), where a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, nurses, and support staff deliver complex, life-altering reconstructive surgeries and pre- and post-surgical care to give patients a chance to return to a normal life.

For a glimpse into the life-altering work of the CUSAP team, we would like to share the story of Pavlo, one of 286 patients helped since the program was established in 2014 by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre under the leadership of CUSAP’s head surgeon, Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn.

About a third of patients return for multiple missions as their injuries are so severe that their recovery is a multi-step process with many procedures performed by the multidisciplinary team of surgeons. Pavlo is one of such repeat patients. He sustained a mine blast injury on August 31, 2022. He was missing the midsection of his face with full exposure of his nasal cavity. Pavlo was referred to CUSAP and became a patient in November 2022, CUSAP’s second mission in Poland.

To date, he has undergone reconstruction of his nasal framework, followed by nasal reconstruction and lip reconstruction and revision. Between missions, he was operated on by Dr. Oleksandr Lompas, a Ukrainian surgeon, who joined several missions and operated alongside Dr. Antonyshyn and the Canadian team. Dr. Lompas managed Pavlo’s case in Ukraine and performed smaller operations to maintain his progress and prepare him for the more significant procedures on the missions.

Please meet Pavlo and see his progress with CUSAP…

Photos by Andrey Syrko

On Tuesday, September 26, Pavlo had another long set of surgical procedures done by the CUSAP multidisciplinary team to further reconstruct his midface with a forearm flap and bone and skin grafts.

As Pavlo nears the end of his recovery, there are many more who are only at the beginning. As the war continues and Ukraine fights to liberate its land and people from under Russian occupation, more veterans and civilians will need reconstructive surgical aid.

We are grateful for the generosity and steadfast support of our donors for enabling the CUSAP team to restore hope and change lives of hundreds of Ukrainians, like Pavlo, who have suffered a serious physical toll as a direct result of war.

To continue supporting the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program, please visit www.cufoundation.ca. Thank you, Дякуємо, Merci.

Background

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia.

Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) was established by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation together with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to help Ukrainians who were severely injured during the Revolution of Dignity in 2013 and the subsequent war in Eastern Ukraine in 2014. Since then, Canadian plastic surgeons have operated on 286 patients – civilians and veterans. The surgeries have significantly improved the quality of life of Ukrainians who undergo the operations.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Access to safe water renewed for 25,000 people in 36 villages of Kherson oblast.

Russia has relentlessly targeted civilian infrastructure in the Kherson Oblast, leaving many villages without a safe water supply. Access to clean water is not just a necessity but also a fundamental human right. Before the area was liberated from Russian occupation, water pumps and towers were damaged, destroyed and stolen by the occupying forces.

The Kakhovka Dam, a crucial part of Kherson’s civilian water infrastructure, was repeatedly targeted by Russian artillery and completely destroyed on June 6th, resulting in thousands of people losing access to fresh, drinkable water.

An additional challenge faced by these impacted communities is the lack of a regular water supply for their crops and household vegetable gardens, which causes poor yields. While already having to withstand daily Russian rocket attacks, the destruction of water supplies—the lifeline of these rural communities—adds yet another threat to their survival. 

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) through their joint effort – the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA), have ensured that 36 villages in Kherson’s Beryslav Region along the Dnipro River regain access to safe water by contributing USD $50,000 to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), enabling the purchase and delivery of 40 submersible water pumps and 60 1,000-litre water tanks.

UCCA, a well-established non-profit organization and founding member of the Ukrainian World Congress, is working closely with Ukraine Protection and Development Fund (UPDF) to ensure the efficient and effective allocation of these water pumps and tanks. The villages receiving this assistance are among the most underserved for humanitarian aid in the area, primarily due to their dangerous proximity to Russian forces, with some located just a few hundred meters from the frontline. 

The funds for this project were collected at a fundraiser breakfast featuring a keynote address by the Honorable Bob Rae on June 27th. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, over 25,000 local and internally displaced people now have access to clean water. This relief not only provides immediate assistance to these villages but also ensures their long-term sustainability. Together, we are making a significant impact on the lives of thousands of Ukrainians affected by the war. However, our work is far from over. We will continue to advocate for the rights of these communities and strive for a future where access to clean water is guaranteed for all. 

The aid that the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been delivering to Ukraine over the past 19 months is vast and diverse, and is made possible by our steadfast supporters – thank you!

Background

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in January of 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada. To date, we have delivered over $47 million in food, medicine, emergency shelter, mental health support, surgical aid, firefighter gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators, and many more types of aid.

Please click here to read further about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia and donate.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

CUSAP Team Lands in Poland for the Fourth Surgical Mission.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is pleased to announce the fourth humanitarian surgical aid mission of the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP), which will take place from September 17 to October 4, 2023, in Poland. 

Next week, CUSAP surgeons, internists, nurses, and support staff will travel to Poland to deliver complex and life-altering surgeries to Ukrainians injured during Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.  

Every CUSAP mission hopes to ease the tremendous burden on the Ukrainian healthcare system by lending the time and expertise of our highly skilled and dedicated volunteer medical professionals, who deliver surgeries as well as pre- and post-surgical care with integrity and compassion. 

Photos taken by Andrey Syrko

The Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program would not be possible without the help of our collaborators and the support of hundreds of donors. 

In addition to funding from the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, we would like to express our gratitude to two incredibly generous anonymous donors, who contributed $200,000.00 CAD and $75,000.00 USD to fund the September 2023 CUSAP mission. 

It is the generosity of all our donors and supporters that enables the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to restore hope and change the lives of Ukrainians who have suffered a serious physical toll as a direct result of the war. Thank you, Дякуємо, Merci! 

To make your contribution and follow the latest news on CUSAP, please click here. Canadian donations are eligible for tax receipts from the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. 

Background

CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada.

To date, we have delivered over $46 million in food, medicine, emergency shelter, mental health support, surgical aid, firefighter gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators, and many more types of aid.

Please click here to read further about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia and donate.

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News Humanitarian/Medical Projects

Four boats handed over to State Emergency Services of Ukraine for Special Rescue Operations

Ukraine has been living in a state of full-scale war since February 24, 2022. Its civilian infrastructure has been targeted on a daily basis – from residential buildings, hospitals, schools, day cares, and town squares, to power grids and, more recently, the Kakhovka water dam, that significantly escalated the humanitarian and caused ecological catastrophe in Ukraine, leaving behind an irreversible and devastating impact on the lives of thousands.

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam revealed shortages in the stock of rescue boats and other equipment available to the branch of Ukraine’s State Emergency Services in Kherson, which was due to the region’s occupation by Russia for over 9 months. During that time, the offices and supply warehouses of the State Emergency Services in the area were robbed and damaged.

As reported in June, following the attack on the Kakhovka Dam on June 6th, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), through their joint effort – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, immediately redirected the delivery of food boxes and family emergency kits (consisting of a water purification unit, hygiene kit and a solar light) to the regions affected by the disaster. As of today, the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has also donated 4 motorized rescue boats – 2 Ribs and 2 Navigators, to the State Emergency Services of Ukraine in an effort to begin replenishing their stock.

“In order to save people during the flood caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, rescuers of the State Emergency Services brought boats from other departments across Ukraine. For example, 90% of the watercraft kept in Kyiv, were transferred to Kherson region,” explains Oleksandr Melnyk, deputy head of the department of special technical support of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Services. “Therefore, the boats we now received through the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, are very important, as we will be able to start replenishing some of our emergency stock located in various regions.”

Two Navigator boats received by the State Emergency Services were transferred to their branch in the city of Dnipro, and two hard-bottomed Rib boats were transferred to the Kyiv branch. 

The aid that the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been delivering to Ukraine over the past 18 months is vast and diverse, and is made possible by our donors – thank you!

Background

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada.

To date, we have delivered over $44 million in food, medicine, emergency shelter, mental health support, surgical aid, firefighters gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators, and many more types of aid. Please click here to read further about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia and donate.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Canada-Ukraine Foundation delivers 100 MOVES® SLC™ life-support systems to Ukraine.

MOVES® SLC™ integrated life-support systems from Thornhill Medical

This week, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) delivered 100 “Thornhill Medical” integrated life-support systems, MOVES® SLC™, to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to be used in land and air transport of critically injured patients as well as other critical care environments.

The life-support systems were donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation by the Government of Canada. Thornhill Medical is contributing casualty care training and other medical equipment. CUF is adding on ventilator cartridges, which are in low supply in Ukraine and are essential for the MOVES® SLC™ to function properly.

Delivery of the 100 MOVES® SLC™ is the largest deployment of this life-saving technology since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. MOVES® SLC™, which is a micro-integrated life support system designed for the provision of medical care in conflict and disaster-stricken zones, is already in use across Ukraine. Nicknamed “the medical Javelin” by Ukraine’s government and front-line healthcare providers, the technology is being used to support patients in hospitals, in forward surgical situations, on ambulances and evacuation medical trains. Now, there will be even more units to save lives.

“We are honoured to receive this very generous donation from the Government of Canada and direct it to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health,” said Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the CUF Board. “Delivery of this one-of-a-kind medical technology from Thornhill Medical will respond to the urgent requests from Ukraine’s healthcare and government officials and, more importantly, these 100 life-support systems will save lives of many critically injured Ukrainians.”

“Thornhill Medical is pleased to support the Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s efforts to help Ukraine’s front-line medical providers, as they face ever-growing number of civilian casualties with life-threatening injuries,” said Lesley Gouldie, President and CEO of Thornhill Medical. “It is imperative that NGOs, international governments and organizations continue to come together to provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid.”

On August 2nd, Sean Boyd, Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission of Canada to Ukraine officially handed these units over to Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine.

Sean Boyd and Ihor Kuzin in Kyiv, Ukraine

“The Government of Canada has been working with the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to provide Ukraine with more portable life support systems. We were glad to hear that the first systems we sent, were vital in ambulances and other transportation evacuating the injured and helped save many lives. Now, Ukraine’s First Responders will have another 100 units of this equipment,” said Sean Boyd, Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission of Canada to Ukraine. “We admire the courage and resilience of Ukrainian doctors, nurses and combat medics. Let these portable life support units help them in their heroic and important work saving lives of Ukrainian patients.”

“Every day since the full-scale invasion (on February 24th, 2022), Ukrainian doctors, like every Ukrainian, have been living and working under the enemy’s attack. (Russian) missiles continuously target and destroy (Ukraine’s) medical infrastructure and civilian objects – the injured and wounded need urgent medical care, especially, during the evacuation and transportation from the site of the attack to the hospital,” said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine. “The portable life support systems received by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine from the Government of Canada, delivered by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, will be sent to stabilization centers and emergency and disaster response teams. We highly appreciate the support of our international partners and their assistance on the “medical front.” Portable life support systems will help monitor patients’ vital signs, provide artificial lung ventilation to those in critical condition, and prevent complications during transportation to hospitals.”

Background

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is a national charitable foundation established in 1995 at the 18th Ukrainian Canadian Congress to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects by Canadians directed to Ukraine and other organizations in Canada. For more information: www.cufoundation.ca

Thornhill Medical’s ground-breaking products are designed to be used globally by emergency health care providers, humanitarian, and military medical teams. Thornhill’s oxygen-focused research and commercial technologies are transforming patient care in humanitarian and military environments, while inspiring and enabling other new technologies to unlock vital life-saving solutions. Thornhill Medical’s innovations are in 19+ countries including in Ukraine. With a team committed to courage, collaboration and saving lives, Thornhill Medical leads the way in the nimble and precision-focused field of medical technologies. For more information: www.thornhillmedical.com

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Russian Terrorist Attack at Kakhovka Dam – Massive Flooding, Devastation, and Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

DESTRUCTION OF THE NOVA KAKHOVKA DAM CAUSES THOUSANDS TO EVACUATE, FURTHER DEEPENING ALREADY DIRE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN UKRAINE.

On June 6th at 2a.m., the Russian Federation blew up the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine. The destruction of the Dam in Kherson oblast has left at least 37 towns and villages partially flooded, which will likely have grave consequences for hundreds of thousands of people (OCHA).

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) condemns this more recent act of Russian terrorism that has caused further environmental and humanitarian destruction in Ukraine, and together with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), through the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Fund (UHA), we are redoubling our focus to the flood-affected area to address the most urgent needs for local residents and evacuees.

The Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) has already directed the immediate supply of food boxes to the region sufficient to feed some 12,000 people for at least two weeks. Further, the UHRC will be working with the Health Cluster Ukraine and our long standing partners in Ukraine to determine immediate and longer-term needs of the flood-devastated regions and to develop an actionable aid plan. 

This type of immediate and robust response would not be possible without your unwavering support of the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal over the last 18 months and CUF’s almost 30-year history, that enabled us to establish strong, effective partnerships in providing a wide range of humanitarian aid to people in Ukraine.

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada.

Food, medicine, emergency shelter support, mental health care, firefighting gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators are some of the types of aid provided by the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal funding.

Read more about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion and click here to further support our critical work.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Third Mission of CUSAP for Ukrainians Wounded In War Underway in Poland

The third Canadian reconstructive surgery mission of the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) is underway at a Polish hospital in the city of Cžeładz. From April 22 to May 6, mission members are providing complex reconstructive surgical care to patients from Ukraine, war victims who have been injured in the gunfire and explosions brought by Russian aggression.

After undergoing remote examination by Canadian doctors, 48 Ukrainian patients are scheduled to undergo surgeries during the mission. Most of the patients require complex post-traumatic reconstructive surgery on craniofacial injuries, and on injuries to their soft tissues, upper and lower extremities, as well as burns.

“The cases are horrendous, they are getting much worse,” noted Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn, MD, FRCS(C), MSM, CUSAP Founder and Head Surgeon, “it’s to the point where Ukraine is having trouble handling them.”

The surgeries will take place in three operating rooms, with three surgical teams operating simultaneously; the surgeries are expected to range from 5 to 15 hours, depending on injury severities. Canadian doctors will be operating on a few of the patients for the second and third times. Following post-operative care, patients will be transported back to Ukraine, in the care of specialists.

The present surgical mission team consists of more than 40 volunteer medical professionals from different provinces of Canada and the US: 9 surgeons, 5 anesthesiologists, 4 physicians and 23 nurses (2 from the US); each surgical team consists of multidisciplinary staff, and each has its own surgical equipment and supplies.

Photo by Andrey Syrko

Another vital component of this, and every, CUSAP mission is the educational one: Ukrainian surgeons are invited to train with their Canadian colleagues, who developed a special educational seminar on craniofacial surgery for the Ukrainians. The current mission will see 15 Ukrainian doctors involved. The goal of the surgical missions’ educational component is to create a learning environment where knowledge is exchanged in order to improve patient outcomes back in Ukraine.

The reconstructive surgery missions were established by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation in partnership with Sunnybrook Science Health Center to provide aid to the people of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2014; Canadian surgeons have operated on 286 patients since then, and the surgeries have significantly improved their quality of life.

From 2014 to 2020, Canadian surgical missions operated in the Kyiv Military Hospital, during which time the Canada-Ukraine Foundation provided nearly $1.5 million in operating room equipment and supplies. Canadian doctors have also performed surgeries in Lviv and Odesa.

The current mission is the tenth since 2014, and the third to take place in Poland since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. The two previous CUSAP missions to Poland took place in September and November, 2022.

The host hospital: Powiatowy Zespół Zakładów Opieki Zdrowotnej in Cžeładz, Poland

The three most recent missions are funded by donor support collected through the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA).

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada, and medicines, food, emergency shelter, surgical aid, veterans’ needs, psychological support, winterization, demining and ambulances in Ukraine. Click here to learn more about and support the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia.