B.C. humanitarian team planning to head back to Ukraine

Oleg Atamnyuk has travelled to Vancouver Island to visit with his wife and two children who are living at the Ukrainian Haven in East Sooke. In a few weeks he will make the return trip home to Ukraine, a country that has been at war for nearly three years.

The doctor and director of a children’s hospital in the west of Ukraine says his country continues to be torn apart, and has become a shield to the rest of world against Russia and its allies.

"We don't know official statistics about how many soldiers have died during the war,” said Atamnyuk.

What Ukrainians do know is that cemeteries across the country are filling up. City centers are running out of space for memorials for fallen soldiers and the signs of sacrifice can be seen in every community.

"Approximately 100,000 soldiers have an amputation,” said Atamnyuk.

Bob Beckett, with Vancouver Island Supports Ukraine, has led three humanitarian trips to the war-torn country, working with four municipalities in the west of Ukraine. In March he and his team will return once again, although a lot of work still needs to be done.

"At this point in time we don't have the funds to address the municipalities requests,” said Beckett.

Those requests are for medical supplies, I.T. equipment and generators to provide power to school bomb shelters during Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.

Last year the city of Colwood’s mayor and council lead a community initiative to purchase a bus for one of those communities in Ukraine. It replaced a school bus that was sent to the frontlines of the war to transport troops.

This year Colwood is looking to do it again.

"We are all part of the human race, the world right,” said Mayor Doug Kobayashi. "This is not taxpayer money, I would encourage Colwoodians to participate in this by donating."

The goal is to raise $30,000 before the team departs in March.

Kobayashi says he will soon be meeting with four of his counterparts in the capital region, looking for a way to create a sustainable funding model for the humanitarian groups' efforts going forward. He says the group of mayors will be encouraging other municipalities on Vancouver Island to become involved in the humanitarian effort.

"It can be past Vancouver Island and over onto the mainland as well,” said Kobayashi.

"It would be amazing if every community of Vancouver Island would get behind some form of support,” said Beckett.

It’s support that Atamnyuk knows of first-hand. His children’s hospital in Ukraine will benefit from a breast milk bank in March, this through a generous donation made possible by the humanitarian group.

To find out more about the teams fundraising efforts or to donate go to this website.