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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.

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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]

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News

Supporting Ukraine while feasting on delicious food!

Update, September 2022: This gastronomic fundraising campaign by Chantal Brodeur and Bohdana Zwonok, has raised $27,000 – an incredible result of the unique idea that offered Quebecers the chance to experience Ukrainian ethnic foods and at the same time, help support humanitarian relief efforts through Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

We are grateful to the organizers, their partners, and to all who have purchased meal boxes and supported this fundraiser. Thank you!

In order to help Ukrainians in need, Bohdana Zwonok and Chantal Brodeur have joined forces to launch a fundraising campaign for Quebec that promises to satisfy your culinary curiosity.


Faced with the horror of this war, Chantal Brodeur could not stand by and watch. For the past few years, she has been working with Les Fermes PB, which offers gastronomic fundraising campaigns for all types of charities. “I knew right away that I had to set up a fundraiser for Ukraine.”


She has teamed up with Bohdana Zwonok, Roma Zwonok-Chaykowsky and chef Oksana Chukha, all Quebecers of Ukrainian descent, to create a typical Ukrainian menu. Meal boxes will be sold to the public and the proceeds will go to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, an organization that sent humanitarian aid to the conflict zones on the fourth day of the war.


For Bohdana, it’s a proactive and caring way to act on events that we too often feel powerless to address. “I feel like I am contributing to the solution, not the problem,” she says. “The gift I give to Ukraine becomes a gift to myself, because I know it will make a difference.”


Another advantage of this fundraising campaign is that it makes it possible for Quebecers who have not had the chance to experience this ethnic gastronomy to discover an aspect of Ukrainian culture. A big thank you to our partners who, through their loyal support, make this campaign possible: Saputo, fromagerie Bergeron, Côté plumes, Fermes PB.

To place an order, please visit: https://fermes-pb.myshopify.com/collections/fondation-canada-ukraine


Delivery dates: Check websites above

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News

The total funds raised during the two week matching pledge period reached almost $3M, including the $1M pledge from Martha Rogers!

Overwhelming $1,878,888 were donated to Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) over the two weeks of Martha Rogers’ generous pledge to match up to $1 million of donations made between August 24th and September 7th!

Thank you to Martha Rogers for the most generous endorsement of CUF and its critical mission!

Thank you to all our donors for the exceptional kindness and generosity!

This is a show of tremendous support of Ukrainians during this dark chapter in their history, and of CUF’s strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

The 1,878,888 were assigned by donors as follows:

  • Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – $1,049,548
  • Displaced Ukrainians Appeal – $511,435
  • Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program – $317,905

Martha Rogers’ $1,000,000 matching pledge has been allocated, as originally communicated in the press release, with $500,000 going to “Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal”, $250,000 to “Displaced Ukrainians Appeal”, and $250,000 to “Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program”.

Our heartfelt thank you for the unparalleled good will of all who took the time and made the donation!

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is a joint program by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), with the aim of  providing a coordinated approach to humanitarian with emphasis on getting assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance with respect to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security. 

To date, we received $43M in donations, $22M of which have been dispersed and allocated.

The “Help Displaced Ukrainians” Appeal – is a parallel fund, established by Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to deploy support to displaced Ukrainian families arriving in Canada.

The Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program, supported by CUF, provides surgical care to war casualties, with care provided by internists, orthopaedic, head and neck, general, vascular, oculoplastic and burn surgeons, in addition to plastic, hand, craniofacial and neurosurgeons and paediatrics.

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

Canada-Ukraine Foundation Summer Newsletter

Canada-Ukraine Foundation Newsletter
Summer 2022

Download PDF Newsletter
Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

“After six months of full-scale war, physical and mental scars ravage generations across Ukraine.” – OCHA

Créateur: Darek Delmanowicz / Crédit: EPA-EFE

Since Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians have continued to see their loved ones killed, injured and traumatized, their families separated, and their homes, schools and hospitals attacked.

Death, destruction and devastation haunt the country’s streets, and the war shows no signs of abating. Some 6.6 million people are internally displaced. 5,587 civilians, including 358 children, have been killed, and over 7,890 civilians, including 693 children, have been injured – although the true numbers are expected to far exceed these. 

Russia’s fatal attack on Ukraine’s Independence Day is yet another example of the ongoing and uninterrupted trauma inflicted upon the people of Ukraine. (OCHA, Dattalion)

Creator: Darek Delmanowicz / Credit: EPA-EFE

On the heels of the story shared last week about the Open-Door project, the Centre of Psychological Counselling and Trauma Therapy in Kyiv, this week’s update will discuss another mental health program supported by Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

“Helping hand for Ukraine: War Trauma Therapy for Displaced Children” is a humanitarian project of HOPE worldwide Canada in Ukraine that provides psychological support to internally displaced children affected by the war.

This project has been operating in Ukraine since 2015, and from its inception, the program has successfully trained 636 facilitators who have gone on to provide therapy to 3,688 children and 984 adults.

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has committed to provide $364,000 over a two-year period, starting September 2022. As needs have grown exponentially since the escalation of war in Ukraine on February 24th, the funding will increase this program’s capacity for aid and enable more support to be provided overall.

The methodology of this program, “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques”, centres around PTSD and depression prevention for children with war trauma. This strategy averts the need for specialized psychotherapy and helps youth learn to cope with stressful and complicated life situations in the future.

Many children affected by war develop traumatic symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorders after experiencing life-threatening situations. Given the increasing number of children in Ukraine who are being traumatized by war, it is important to equip them with better coping strategies so that they would feel sufficiently more in control of their reactions and are able to benefit from the support of their families and use the opportunities available in their schools.

Over the next two years, 240 psychologists, educators, and social workers will be trained to provide mental health support for 9,900 internally displaced children with war trauma. This humanitarian program will be held in the Western region of Ukraine, specifically Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi oblasts.

Due to the ongoing Russian invasion, the need for psychological support continues to grow. Thanks to our generous donors, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is able to fund these incredibly important projects in Ukraine.

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

Martha Rogers announces $1M matching donation to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation

Martha Rogers announces a pledge to match donations made to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation between August 24, 2022 (Ukraine’s Independence Day) and September 7, 2022 (Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Day).

Up to $1 million dollars in total will be matched, $500,000 to Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (“Help Ukraine Now”), $250,000 to “Help Displaced Ukrainians in Canada”, and up to $250,000 to the “Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program”. Direct donate buttons for the above with immediate tax receipts can be found on the cufoundation.ca homepage.

Martha makes this pledge in memory of her mother, Loretta Anne Rogers, as she spearheaded the idea to support the Ukrainian people in their time of need. “From the early days of the horrific Russian attacks on Ukraine, mom and I would view and read the news together. She and I were absolutely distraught at the damage to hospitals, schools and residential buildings, and the indiscriminate murder of thousands of civilians, including women and children, and the displacement of more than 10 million Ukrainians.” “We became aware of the great work the Canada-Ukraine Foundation was doing back in March, just a few weeks into the attacks. Mom and I agreed to support this Canada-based humanitarian charity based on its almost 30-year track record, its established and reputable partners in and around Ukraine, its endorsement by the Ukrainian Canadian community, the support of federal and provincial governments here in Canada, as well as contacts with government ministries in Ukraine. Most importantly, we were impressed by CUF’s ability to deliver diverse types of aid in a timely, flexible and efficient manner.”

Orest Sklierenko, President and CEO of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, said “This pledge from Martha in memory of her mother is a most generous endorsement of CUF and its mission. The matching pledge program is a laudable example of how leaders in our community can encourage others to add their support to #HelpUkraineNow.
He continued, “From the early days of these attacks, we have seen a tremendous outpouring of support from across Canada, from tens of thousands of donors from the Pacific to the Atlantic and every community in between.”

Background Information

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is a joint program by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), with the aim of   providing a coordinated  approach to humanitarian with emphasis on getting assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance with respect to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security. 

To date, we received $43M in donations, $22M of which have been dispersed and allocated.

The “Help Displaced Ukrainians” Appeal – is a parallel fund, established by Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to deploy support to displaced Ukrainian families arriving in Canada.

The Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program, supported by CUF, provides surgical care to war casualties, with care provided by intensivist, orthopaedic, head and neck, general, vascular, oculoplastic and burn surgeons, in addition to plastic, hand, craniofacial and neurosurgeons and paediatrics.

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.

#HelpUkraineNow at cufoundation.ca

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal supports Mental Health program in Kyiv, Ukraine

After 165 days of war, 6.4 million Ukrainians have moved to Europe, and 6.6 million people have become internally displaced in Ukraine. 5.3 thousand civilians have been killed, of which 358 were children, and 7.3 thousand have been injured. (UNHCR, IOM, OCHA, DATTALION)

This has had a detrimental effect on the mental state of the population. The most common symptoms are chronic stress, anxiety, panic attacks, sleeping problems, insomnia in adults, fear of loud noises, loss of appetite, as well as bedwetting and nightmares for children.

The Ukraine Flash Appeal 2022 has identified a need for Mental Health and Psychosocial support to 3,766,425 persons.

Crosses, flowers, and photographs mark the graves of victims of the battles for Irpin and Bucha at the cemetery of Irpin, Ukraine, on May 16

CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been supporting Open Doors – the Centre of Psychological Counselling and Trauma Therapy in Kyiv. The contract will create a network of psychologists, translators and volunteers to deliver individual and group psychological and trauma therapy services. Translation services for volunteers from abroad will be established so they can lead educational seminars on psychological aid, stabilization of children in crisis and teach parents to talk to their children about war and coping strategies. 

Dr. Syvak, who manages the Centre, reported that during the first three months of the program (May/June/July), 980 clients have been serviced. They are seeing growth in the number of people turning for help and in the average number of sessions that they attend.

The Centre also runs a stabilization group for psychologists to support providers who work in high stress situations and need a place to process their experience, rebalance and stabilize. The network has served 284 psychologists in three months. There is a waiting list of 255 for August and September.

The third part of the program is to bring Ukrainian clinicians in Ukraine to American standards of education and practice. 100 psychologists have completed the two year program. 126 have started the next cycle.  This program will enable another 40 psychologists to start a new two year session. The candidates come from social and volunteer service centres, hospitals and Government establishments.

Thanks to the generous support and commitment of our donors, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is able to continue its critical mission of providing aid and assistance to Ukraine – it ranges from immediate humanitarian relief to a long-term support, as in this case, through training of more mental health professionals, specializing in trauma therapy, so that everyone who needs and or seeks mental health support has access to high quality counseling services.

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) under Canada-Ukraine Foundation

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s (CUF) Health Advisory Team (HAT) aims to be the partner of choice for Ukrainian healthcare institutions, NGOs, and various levels of government health ministries to build capability and capacity within Ukrainian healthcare systems and communities. Through CUF-supported and sponsored programs and projects, we promote health by enabling organizations, healthcare practitioners and healthcare promotion advocates to improve the healthcare in the communities that they serve.

The CUF Health Advisory Team was responsible for supporting and implementing a number of critical health initiatives since 2014. To date, CUF, under Dr. Antonyshyn’s leadership, has completed 7 medical missions in 4 major cities of Ukraine. The surgical teams were volunteer specialists from across Canada, and included world renowned trauma and reconstructive surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. The main purpose of these missions was to provide consultations and surgical reconstructions to patients with complex traumatic defects who would otherwise not receive treatment including military personnel and civilians.  Thousands of individuals and their families have been directly assisted through our missions.  Most recently, we have launched both direct and remote surgical training through the Sunnybrook Ukraine Surgical Education Initiative, in partnership with Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Canada’s leading Trauma Center.

During 7 previous Canada-Ukraine Foundation-sponsored missions to Ukraine, we have developed a remarkably effective model for mobilizing a self-sufficient comprehensive team to deliver sophisticated surgical care to war casualties. 

Images are courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

The invasion of Ukraine has targeted military installations, political and geographic objectives, while indiscriminately bombing civilian buildings, evacuation corridors, schools and even hospitals.  Both military and civilian casualties are mounting rapidly.

We have consulted our surgery colleagues, and the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and anticipate an unprecedented and prolonged need for medical assistance, particularly in addressing post traumatic defects and deformities.

This is why we are lunching the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program – CUSAP.

DONATE to CUSAP

Your support of this program will allow:

  • Ongoing medical support to thousands of Ukrainians who have become casualties of the war
  • Collaboration, educational training and development of specialized surgeons in Ukraine and abroad

Our preliminary goal:

Run ongoing medical aid programs (every 2 months) to provide surgical care to war casualties with extended scope and range of surgical services provided by  intensivists, orthopaedic, head and neck, general, vascular, oculoplastic and burn surgeons, in addition to plastic, hand, craniofacial and neurosurgeons and paediatrics.

We have organized and fully equipped teams of volunteer Canadian nurses, anesthesiologists and surgeon specialists. The teams will be entirely self-sufficient, bringing all required surgical hardware, implant materials, medications, and disposable supplies.

First medical team (consisting of 30 volunteer medical professionals), headed by Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn, will be deploying to Czeladz, Poland in September 2022 to run a surgical and education aid mission at Powiatowy Zespół Zakładów Opieki Zdrowotnej.

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News Civil Society Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal purchased and arranged shipment of140 metric tons of buckwheat seeds to Ukraine amidst the looming food crisis caused by Russian invasion.

Before the full-scale invasion on February 24th, Ukraine had been shipping buckwheat to various customers in Europe and Asia. Now, with Russia’s continuous shelling of Ukraine’s grain fields and its occupation of some of Ukraine’s agricultural land, a large percentage of Ukraine’s expected harvest is being destroyed. In response to these dire developments, the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada asked the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to purchase and ship the Canadian buckwheat seeds to Ukraine since their resources are limited. FYK Soba Inc. in Manitoba, a specialist in the production of premium buckwheat, generously redirected 140 metric tons of buckwheat seeds to aid Ukraine. Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal then purchased and made arrangements to transport 7 containers by sea to Germany and then on to Ukraine.

Despite the late delivery of buckwheat seeds and the fact that sowing took place only last month, a wide distribution of farmers throughout Ukraine already see initial results – buckwheat seeds have started germinating across Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Ternopil, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytsk, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. Overall, 70 farmers in Ukraine partook in sowing this Canadian buckwheat and the expected yield is 3,000 m/t of processed buckwheat groats. This shipment of buckwheat seeds came with personalized care from Don Fyk, the president of FYK Soba Inc., who was in direct contact with Serhiy Hromovyi, the Executive Director of the International Buckwheat Association of Ukraine, about the type of seeds being shipped and the proper care they require to give the highest yield – a true Canadian-Ukrainian partnership.

Thanks to your generous support and commitment, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is able to continue its critical mission of providing aid and assistance to Ukraine, including this effort to enable farmers in Ukraine do what they do best – grow the grain they know.

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.