Toulouse: the first convoys of humanitarian aid to Ukraine
“This war really fell on our heads. » Without warning.
They are forty active members, a hundred donors but their number swells from hour to hour. The Ukrainian diaspora in Toulouse is organizing to help their country of origin, victim of a war of Russian invasion since last Thursday.
“We are just starting to organize ourselves” almost apologizes Oxana when at least three vehicles filled with humanitarian aid have already left the Toulouse region, heading for Poland. At least two trucks are still expected to leave this week “we don’t know if this aid will go to refugees in Poland or Ukraine”. In cars and trucks: food, torches, batteries, blankets, warm clothes or soft toys for children.
Mutual aid, resourcefulness and solidarity
Ukrainians, Russians, French are beginning to structure themselves “our volunteers are overwhelmed with calls” so “we have to filter, direct, that everyone takes care of his branch: humanitarian aid, military to send helmets, bulletproof vests, emergency kits, tourniquets…), who takes care of communication, who occupies trucks…”
There is Valentin in Bruguières, but also Daryna artist from Aureville from Ukraine. She lent her house to store the fruit of the harvest, “It all started with little messages on social networks”, then thanks to the networks set up during the Maidan revolution (2014) solidarity is set up, “ they have the contacts and the experience”. “Yesterday we sorted things out” explains Daryna who collected several kilos of material “but no medical equipment because as an individual we can stop the equipment at the borders”. “It was a workshop for my previous girlfriend” explains Jérôme, Daryna’s husband “We try to support as we can”. “As long as there are people who bring back on recovered” ensures the Toulouse.
Oxana did not imagine such a magnitude of this movement, notably launched on Facebook via the Ukraine Libre Toulouse group; “It touches me that everyone is grouped around Ukraine, it means that we love our people…”
All about collection addresses for Ukraine in Toulouse