Category: Humanitarian/Medical

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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.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Firefighting Gear Delivered to Ukraine

As missiles and shells fired by the Russian Federation’s armed forces continue to wreak havoc on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, the resulting fires and destruction mean that the country’s firefighters need a steady supply of protective clothing and gear to do their jobs. The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, a joint initiative of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), has recently delivered 1,000 advanced firefighter suits, 1,000 sets of protective base wear, 2,000 balaclavas, and 1,000 pairs of gloves and boots to the State Emergency Services in Ukraine.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Ukraine’s first responders, firefighters, and paramedics have worked tirelessly to deal with the horrors and destruction of war across Ukraine, by extinguishing fires and conducting search and rescue operations on a daily basis. In Ukraine, first responders are deservedly called “heroes without munitions”: their main “weapons” are their skills, the high-quality gear and equipment they use to do their jobs.

“The State Emergency Services play an important role in Ukraine’s defence and its society’s resilience. As part of our humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal with the help from our trusted partner, GlobalMedic, has delivered new and advanced protective gear for use in fire stations in four regions of Ukraine: Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kirovohrad, and Cherkasy,” explained Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz, a CUF board member and advisor to the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee, who coordinated the procurement and delivery of the gear.

Another 10,000 pairs of extraction gloves that conform to the EN388 standard, and 200 portable aerosol Fire Suppression units are currently on their way to Ukraine.

“We are grateful to everyone who continues to support our humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. The war continues, and so does our mission to help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine,” Luciw-Andryjowycz said.

Background

The 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.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

11 ambulances delivered to Ukraine to help Emergency Healthcare save lives.

An average of two attacks on health care – including the bombing of hospitals, torture of medics, and shooting at ambulances – were perpetrated each day from February 24 to December 31, 2022, reported by OCHA.

“Arriving in time, providing the wounded with the necessary first aid en route, and bringing them to the hospital as soon as possible means saving one’s life. That is why the ambulances and evacuation vehicles are one of our top priorities,” emphasizes Ukraine’s Health Minister, Viktor Lyashko, in his address to the representatives of the international organizations.

On behalf of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – a joint effort of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress (UCC), Oksana Wynnyckyj-Yusypovych, Honorary Consul at Canadian Consulate in Lviv, Ukraine, officially handed over 11 new ambulances to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Health on February 21st.

The ambulances are unique four-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser J78 off-road vehicles designed to operate in difficult conditions and have high cross-country ability. They are easy to maintain and have a large fuel tank, providing a range of 1,000 km. These new medical evacuation vehicles will safely transport wounded patients to the designated hospitals. They were assembled in Gibraltar.

Oksana Wynnyckyj-Yusypovych
Consul with the representatives of Ukraine’s MOH

“This is not the first time that Canadian-funded ambulances have been sent to Ukraine. Ukrainian Canadians have stood shoulder to shoulder with their Ukrainian brothers and sisters throughout the 9-year war and will stand until Ukraine wins,” says Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the CUF’s Board and the CUF-UCC joint Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) that manages the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal fund. On January 28, 2017, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress donated 14 ambulances to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Health.

Since February 2022, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has supported the Health Sector of Ukraine with 53 metric tons of medications delivered to 78 hospitals in the Eastern Ukraine reaching 790,500 patients, 17 dialysis machines, 20 vacuum assisted closure (VAC) machines, 330 pallets of PPE and 60 generators.

According to UNICEF estimates, by the end of 2022, a total of 17.7 million people in Ukraine were in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including 3.4 million children. Hence, our mission to provide the urgent humanitarian aid remains crucial. Thank you to our 72,000 donors across Canada who have supported our work over the past year. We are grateful to all for their continuous and steadfast support.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

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News Civil Society Humanitarian/Medical

365 days of suffering and resilience. Today marks one-year since Russia’s brutal, unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the Board of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), and Alexandra Chyczij, the National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), held a press conference in Toronto reporting on the $52 million raised through the CUF-UCC joint Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and the $26 million already deployed in the essential humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

They were joined by Her Excellency, Yulia Kovaliv, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, who expressed her deep gratitude for the help and support of Ukrainian people provided by Canadians over the last year, and also, by Rahul Singh, the Executive Director of GlobalMedic, one of CUF’s partners in delivering food and hygiene kits to Ukraine.

Left to right: Rahul Singh, Alexandra Chyczij, Victor Hetmanczuk, Oksana Kuzyshyn, Laryssa Waler

KEY FACTS:

  • The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is a joint effort of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC). For over a year, the two organizations have been working together to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver crucial humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians suffering in the brutal and unprovoked war.
  • Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24th, 2022 – the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has raised over $52 million from 72,000 donors across Canada.
  • Primary focus of the humanitarian relief efforts was in the area of food security, medical care, and emergency shelter for displaced persons in Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries.
UCC – CUF Executives
Left to Right: Alexandra Chyczij, National President of UCC, Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the Board, CUF, and Oksana Kuzyshyn, COO, CUF

Since February 2022, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has delivered:

  • 300 thousand boxes of food providing meals to 850,000 people in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania
  • 53 MT of medicines reaching 790,500 patients
  • 161 generators for hospitals, surviving families of Ukrainian armed forces personnel killed in action, and in support of Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy
  • 2,000 stoves for cooking and heating homes in recently liberated areas
  • 2,000 wooden beds, mattresses, duvets, pillows and bedding for the displaced persons
  • 1,000 sets of firefighting gear, 10,000 gloves specialized for the first responders
  • $1.2M in psychological assistance for civilians
  • 2 surgical missions who operated on 44 patients with severe craniofacial injuries, totalling 106 procedures
  • 20 Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) machines for wound infection treatment in hospitals in Western Ukraine plus consumables
  • 11 Toyota ambulances for Ukraine’s Ministry of Health
  • 3 Humanitarian Demining Robots
  • 1,000 pallets of cleaning supplies to displaced persons
  • 330 pallets of PPE to hospitals

According to UNICEF estimates, by the end of 2022, a total of 17.7 million people in Ukraine were in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, including 3.4 million children. Currently, 5.9 million internally displaced persons are registered in Ukraine.

QUOTATIONS:

  • “Ukrainians are severely affected by Russian aggression. Russia has destroyed almost 50% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and most Ukrainians do not have access to basics, such as electricity, water, and heat. We are very grateful to CUF and UCC for delivering the generators with light masts for our teams of electricians, who can now efficiently repair the grid and restore the electricity, as well as the generators for hospitals and veterans’ families. More than 45,000 residential areas have been destroyed in Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of people unable to return to their homes. CUF-UCC help set up temporary shelters by supplying the necessities, beds and mattresses, food and medical supplies, as well as sponsoring psychological support programs for Ukrainians. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I want to thank you for your support and ask you to continue standing with Ukraine until our common victory”, – Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Yulia Kovaliv.
  • “The Ukrainian Canadian community has been working non-stop to support our sisters and brothers in Ukraine in their heroic defence of their homeland from Russia`s genocidal war of aggression. Our community is immensely grateful to all Canadians for their steadfast, generous support of the Ukrainian people in their time of need.” – Alexandra Chyczij, National President, Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
  • “This year, more than ever, we are grateful to those who founded Canada-Ukraine Foundation in 1995, and to all those who have built its strong foundation, nurtured the relations both, here, in Canada, and in Ukraine, and kept the organization effective and efficient, so that when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th – we were there within a few days with the first tranche of humanitarian aid. Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal became the fund of choice to all across Canada, who wanted to support the humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.” – Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the Board of Directors, Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
  • This ugly war in Ukraine has displaced over 16 million people. Brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure have damaged electrical grids and knocked out water purification facilities. One in three household are food insecure. People are hungry and need clean water. I am proud of our partnership with CUF. They have rallied the community to raise awareness and funds to help vulnerable families in need. With their support we have reached families in desperate need with life-saving humanitarian assistance. This war rages on and it is getting uglier. We must redouble our efforts to keep helping families in need.” – Rahul Singh, Executive Director, GlobalMedic.
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News Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine’s energy grid, hospitals, and veterans’ families receive generators from the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Generators with light masts donated to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continuously sustains severe damages from frequent Russian drone and missile attacks. Just yesterday, Russia launched 17 drones followed by 59 rockets across Ukraine, targeting its energy infrastructure. People throughout the country, yet again, endured long hours without electricity. Prolonged blackouts, heating and water shortages are the reality for Ukrainians for over 11 months now. There is a crucial need for power generators to sustain basic living conditions.

To date, Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee – a joint partnership of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) committed to providing:

  • 50 large power generators with light masts for Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy
  • 60 generators for hospitals through its partnership with NGO Initiative E+
  • 46 generators for the families of war veterans through Global Medic

Chris Brown, foreign correspondent for CBC, did a story out of Chernihiv, Ukraine, on the use of the generators with light masts that enable the continuity of power network repairs, day and night. 27 units have already been delivered and are in use; remaining 23 are en route.

Our partner organization in Ukraine, NGO Initiative E+ has started delivery of the 60 generators to the hospitals, to ensure the continuity of patient care.

With the help of another partner, Global Medic, 46 generators will be shipped and delivered to the families of the veterans over the next month.

Generators at the Global Medic wear house in Toronto about to be shipped to Ukraine (left).
One of the hospital in Ukraine that received a generator though NGO Initiative E+(right).

Today, January 27th, marks one year since the launch of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal fund and the establishment of the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee to manage it. The $22.9 million of aid and assistance delivered as of December 2022, would not have been possible without the generosity and unwavering support of our donors across Canada. Thank you for helping Ukrainians remain resilient in the face of the Russian aggression! To learn more about the work of the Committee on the numerous ongoing humanitarian relief projects, please visit our website.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

“Warm Up Ukraine” project underway

"Warm Up Ukraine" Project of "Be Free" Youth Movement is realized in partnership with Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Ukrainian Canadian Congress

2,000 heating and cooking stoves are manufactured and being distributed in partnership with “Be Free” Youth Movement to low-income families in the rural communities of Eastern Ukraine.

The full-scale military aggression by the russian federation launched on February 24, 2022 has had a significant negative impact on the Ukrainian energy sector. Energy infrastructure facilities have been among the primary targets for the russian army. As of November 24, 2022, russia occupied or damaged about 50% of Ukraine’s installed power capacity. The 2022-2023 heating season in the whole country is at high risk, as reported by the International Energy Charter.

Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) – partnership of Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), has committed $5 million over the span of four months, December’22 – March’23, to Winterization program announced in December, to help support Ukrainians in the harsh winter months during wartime. One of the Winterization projects is “Warm Up Ukraine” with “Be Free” Youth Movement.

“Be Free” is a well-established organization in the rural communities of Sumy, Zhaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Mykolayiv, and Dnipropetrovsk in Eastern Ukraine. Through “Warm Up Ukraine” project, funded by the UHRC, 2,000 wood-burning stoves are being manufactured in Ukraine and distributed to the low-income families in these rural communities that often have multiple generations sharing the same household, which further increases the importance and benefit of these heating/cooking units.

An important aspect of this project is that these stoves are made by a local business in Ukraine with raw materials also sourced within the country, which means we are not only supporting local community, we are also supporting local economy.

UHRC has committed $551,072 CDN to this project, 10% of the total allocated for Winterization. The first report showed that 456 stoves were already distributed as of December 28th, and the next 750 will be distributed by January 10th of 2023, with remainder to follow shortly.

“Be Free” Youth Movement wrote, “In the absence of electricity and heating, the stove remains the only option to cook food and keep warm, it is the only way to survive in the war.”

Together, we help provide the basics to these families facing the cruel reality.

We are grateful to all our donors for the unwavering and steadfast support of our humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine for almost a year now. You have enabled us to fund many important projects like this one and help Ukrainians remain resilient in the face of the russian aggression. To learn more about our work, please visit our website.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – Winterization projects in Ukraine.

Ukraine continues to fight against russian aggression. Under daily missile attacks and prolonged blackouts, the army is strong and regular people – resilient.

Ten months ago, Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Ukrainian Canadian Congress established a partnership – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and joint Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver crucial humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainians displaced to the neighbouring countries by war.

In the last few months, the UHR Committee allocated extra time and effort to winterization – projects that would ensure delivery of the type of aid people in Ukraine will desperately need during the harsh winter months under the continuous shelling, with no access to electricity or heat.

For the next four months, December 2022 – March 2023, the work of the UHR Committee will ensure:

  • Food security – 140,000 food boxes at 14 kg each, will feed 350,000 people. Distribution will focus on recently liberated regions.
  • Medicine & Medical supplies – 27,000 kg of medicines and hospital supplies will be delivered to 78 hospitals in Northern and Eastern oblasts.
  • Surgical missions – Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) will have its second mission in Poland before the year end to provide the surgical care to war casualties that could not be helped in Ukraine.
  • Winterization:
    • Care for the elderly – HelpAge Canada will provide all the necessary assistance to 2,300 seniors in 23 villages in Ukraine.
    • Women’s shelter support – will winterize and provide food support to Misto Dobra (City of Goodness) – women’s shelter in Chernivtsi.
    • Emergency shelter support – building and distributing 2,000 beds and mattresses to IDPs.
    • SOS Children’s Villages Canada will provide foods security, temporary shelter, non-food items and mental health support for 500 IDPs.
    • Heat – building and installing 2,000 wood burning stoves.
    • Light – Purchased 50 mobile generators with light masts for the Ministry of Energy for repair work.
  • Firefighting gear – 1,000 new sets of firefighting gear to be delivered to Ukraine’s Ministry of Emergency Services.
  • Ambulances – Purchased 11 Toyota ambulances for the Ukraine’s Ministry of Health.
  • Wound treatment – Purchased 20 Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) machines for wound infection treatment in hospitals in Western Ukraine.
  • First Aid kits – 11,000 chest seals added to 11,000 First Aid kits to upgrade them for trauma.

Please see the brief overview of the UHR Committee work in the 9 months since the full-scale invasion, as presented at the UCC XXVII Triennial Congress.

All the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine in the last 9 months and aid planned for the next 4 months, would not have been possible without your unwavering support – thank you!

As the missile strikes and people’s suffering continue across Ukraine, please consider to further support our critical mission of helping our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. You can make a donation on our website.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP): First mission since russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

September 5th to 20th, a team of 30 Canadian medical professionals travelled to Czeladz, Poland to treat Ukraine’s victims of war.

Team (35 individuals) consisted of:

  • Medicine
  • Anesthesia
  • Pharmacy
  • Nursing
  • Procurement/Equipment manager
  • Administration
Image is courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

The primary goal of the mission was to provide complex reconstructive surgical care to victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This was an exploratory (pilot) mission to:

  • Organize and fully equip an expert multidisciplinary Canadian volunteer surgical team
  • Identify a suitable host hospital, and establish the requisite professional collaborations, processes and protocols
  • Develop and implement a method for patient referral, virtual triage, safe transport and repatriation
The host hospital: Powiatowy Zespół Zakładów Opieki Zdrowotnej in Czeladz, Poland // Image is courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

CUSAP is well supported by volunteers, supporters and donors. Over $1.5 million dollars of equipment and supplies were donated from major companies. Volunteers provided warehouses, physical and monetary support allowing the team to transport over 14,000 tons of medical supplies and equipment.

Logistical planning and arrangements involved multiple levels which included both Ministry of Health in Poland and Ukraine. Licensing, patient documentations and arrangements of transportation were a major focus to ensure the process ran effectively and efficiently.

Image is courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

The Canadian team together completed numerous virtual patient assessments and an initial outpatient preoperative clinic (September 11, 2022) assessing 45 patients. Patients arrived to Poland in ambulances and were admitted and assessed by both the Canadian and Polish teams. Patients underwent multidisciplinary assessments and preoperative anesthesia evaluations. Where required, surgical plans were developed and operating room bookings were completed.

After 5 days of surgery over 40 extremely complex procedures were performed. The surgeries focused on the reconstruction of post traumatic or post ablative defects and deformities of the face, craniofacial skeleton, and upper and lower extremities. Etiology of the deformities varied, including military and civilians but all were war casualties.

The patients were monitored postoperatively, and provided care by the Canadian ward team consisting of highly qualified physicians and nurses. Team continued to receive daily updates on progress and recovery post-mission, and also provided necessary advice and guidance to leading (Ukrainian) physicians on care for these patients. 

Images are courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

The stories shared by the patients left a mark on the whole team. From a young soldier who was the only survivor after an attack on his brigade, to the woman who lost her home and nearly her life when a missile hit her village on a bright summer day.

The war continues and innocent lives are affected and lost every day. There are many more stories like these and so many more people in need of our help. 

The next CUSAP mission is being planned for the end of the year. Please continue supporting the casualties of this war by donating to CUSAP via Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

Background

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine and to the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.

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News Humanitarian/Medical

Seven months of full-scale war in Ukraine, eight months since the establishment of CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee.

CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee.

Seven months of missile attacks and bombings across Ukraine, causing destruction, loss and devastation – 5,996 civilians killed, of them 382 children; 8,848 people injured, of them 676 children; 7+ million displaced (OHCHR, Dattalion). 

Eight months have passed since the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHR Committee) – a joint partnership of Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), was established with the aim of providing a coordinated approach to humanitarian aid with emphasis on getting assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine.

To date, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Fund, launched to enable the work of the UHR Committee, has raised $45 million, of which $22 million has already been disbursed and allocated.

As of September 1, 2022, Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee has:

  • Delivered food boxes to almost 1 million people in 21 oblasts
  • Started War Trauma Therapy program for 9,900 children over 2yrs
  • Purchased 1,000 new firefighting sets of personal equipment
  • Re-launched Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program – first mission has been completed in Poland
  • Delivered hospital supplies and medicines to 78 hospitals across Ukraine
  • Harvest is expected in October from the 140 metric tons of buckwheat seeds previously delivered in summer
  • The Displaced Ukrainians Appeal has funded over 1,000 displaced children in Ukrainian-Canadian summer camps across Canada
Video by Ivanka Siolkowsky about delivery of “food boxes” in Ukraine

As Ukrainian Armed Forces have now bravely gone into counteroffensive and are liberating Ukraine’s territories inch by inch, we discover the atrocities committed by the Russian army on the previously occupied territories, like the mass burial site on the outskirts of Izyum in Kharkiv Oblast with 440 graves.

Kyiv Post

Our partners in Ukraine are already delivering food boxes to people in recently de-occupied territories of Kharkiv region, so that the families who survived the Russian occupation, have access to immediate humanitarian assistance. This would not be possible without your continuous support – thank you!

#HelpUkraineNow

Background

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine and to the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT BRINGS BACK THE MAGIC OF THE 1972 SUMMIT SERIES WITH A $2 CIRCULATION COIN CELEBRATING THE 5OTH ANNIVERSARY OF TEAM CANADA’S HISTORIC HOCKEY TRIUMPH

Sales of Summit Series collector products will help raise funds for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Ottawa, Ontario, September 28, 2022 – Fifty years to the day since the last game was played in an epic clash between hockey superpowers, the Royal Canadian Mint is issuing a $2 circulation coin celebrating the triumph of Team Canada over the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics team (Team USSR) in the 1972 Summit Series. That hard fought tournament, where the pride of a nation was on the line at every face off, crowned Canada the true world champion of hockey. The victory united Canadians in celebrations that, 50 years on, still echo in the hearts and minds of those who experienced that glorious moment in our sporting history. This special coin will begin circulating today.

“Hockey is a defining aspect of our national Canadian identity, and in 1972 Team Canada helped inspire a generation of Canadians,” said The Honorable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. “This new circulation coin may be a small token, but I hope—fifty years later—that it might help to inspire another. And I’m pleased that the net proceeds from the sale of the collector coins commemorating the Summit Series will be donated to the Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal.”

“Many of Canada’s commemorative circulations coins celebrate events that have united Canadians in pride and celebration. The 1972 Summit Series is just such an event, which is why we are proud to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this legendary hockey triumph on a circulation coin,” said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The Summit Series is a compelling reminder of what Canadians can accomplish when they unite, work hard and persevere. I hope that this coin will inspire Canadians of all ages, genders and backgrounds, on the ice or in everyday life.”

The 1972 Summit Series was an eight-game contest between Canada and the USSR, with games scheduled across Canada and in Moscow. The finest hockey players, from the world’s top hockey countries, would face off on the ice to finally determine who could claim the title of best hockey nation on earth.

Names like Esposito, Dryden, Makita, Cournoyer, Mahovlich, Clark, Henderson, Savard and Dionne filled out a star-studded line-up of NHL® players. What was expected to be a rout for Canada turned into a nerve-wracking see-saw battle as the Canadian leg of the series opened with a stunning 7-3 Game One loss for the home team, followed by a win, a tie, and another loss to Team USSR in Game Four.

Players and fans were shaken by the skill and resilience of the Soviet side, but Team Canada vowed to keep fighting.

“Fifty years ago I said that every one of us, all 35 guys, came out for Team Canada because we loved our country,” said Hall of Fame member Phil Esposito. “We came because we loved Canada. Today, it holds true. Every one of us is proud of what we did as a team and what we did for our country. The team came together and, importantly to all of us, the country came together.”

With 3,000 home fans accompanying them to Moscow for the final four games, Team Canada began its comeback. Undeterred by a Game Five loss, the team bounced back in the next two match-ups to win through classic team work and a never-say-die attitude. The title was on the line by Game Eight, as 15 million Canadians tuned in to watch the final showdown. Down by two goals at the start of the third period, Team Canada never gave up. With the game tied 5-5 and only 34 seconds left before the final whistle, winger Paul Henderson fired a shot heard around the world: the series-winning goal. Hockey history was made and all of Canada rejoiced.

“Canada’s winning goal was the most important goal in hockey history,” said fellow team member and Hall of Famer Serge Savard. “If you ask Ken Dryden, or Pete Mahovlich, or Yvan Cournoyer, it’s the highlight of our career, even more than winning the Stanley Cups. It’s something different. We did it for our country.”

The reverse of the 50th Anniversary Summit Series $2 circulation coins was designed by Canadian artist Joel Kimmel. The inner core of the coin features two hockey players representing Team Canada. Set against the team’s stylized maple leaf jersey emblem, two charging hockey players are framed by the words “THE SERIES LA SÉRIE” and “50 YEARS ANS”. The coaches’ initials and the jersey numbers of every player surround the core. The obverse still features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Three million coins have been minted, of which two million feature a fully coloured inner core. These exciting new coins will gradually reach Canadians through their change as bank branches and businesses replenish their inventories of $2 circulation coins.

The Mint is issuing a number of collector coins in support of this historic anniversary. To add to the meaning of this celebration, all net cash received from the sale of the following collector products will be donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal:

  • A 2022 $2 Colourized Special Wrap Roll – 50th Anniversary of the Summit Series (limited to 15,000 rolls of coloured coins at $79.95 each);
  • A 2022 Special Wrap Roll Set – 50th Anniversary of the Summit Series, featuring a coloured and uncoloured roll, limited to a mintage of 10,000 sets and retailing for $159.90;
  • A 2 oz. Pure Silver Coin – 50th Anniversary of the Summit Series, a large-scale 99.99% pure silver version of the circulation coin with a mintage of 5,000 and retailing for $189.95; and
  • A 2022 $200 Pure Gold Coin – 50th Anniversary of the Summit Series, a 1 oz. pure gold version of the circulation coin design. Its mintage is limited to 300 coins and it retails for $4,099.95.

The collectibles can be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca/summitseries.
They are also available at the Royal Canadian Mint’s Ottawa and Winnipeg boutiques, as well as through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.

Images of the circulation coin and collector product are available here.

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. The Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on
the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For more information, media are asked to contact:

Alex Reeves
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Telephone: 613-884-6370
[email protected]