Press Advisories

16. 2. 2015 21:47

The Czech Republic dispatches a convoy with humanitarian aid for Ukraine

On 16 February 2015, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka symbolically launched the journey of a Czech humanitarian convoy to Ukraine.
On 16 February 2015, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka symbolically launched the journey of a Czech humanitarian convoy to Ukraine.
Today, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Minister for Foreign Affairs Lubomír Zaorálek, President of the Czech Red Cross Marek Jukl, Director-General of the Fire Rescue Service Drahoslav Ryba, Chairman of the State Material Reserves Authority Pavel Švagr, and a representative of the People in Need organisation symbolically launched the journey of a Czech humanitarian convoy for Ukraine.

Besides four lorries and two accompanying vehicles from the Directorate General of the Fire Rescue Service, the convoy includes an ambulance of the Czech Red Cross which, in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross, will coordinate the proper handling, registration and delivery of aid on the Ukrainian side. The convoy will reach Kiev in the evening of 17 February.

The convoy has been organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the instigation of the prime minister following the European Council meeting on 18 December. The transportation of medical materials (the Czech Red Cross), sleeping bags, blankets and foil wrappers (State Material Reserves Authority), and roofing (People in Need) has been arranged by drawing on the resources of the Directorate General of the Fire Rescue Service.

Czech government provides aid to Ukrainian children

The Czech government is also providing aid to Ukraine in other areas. Since 2 February, in the wake of a decision by the government, recuperative stays have been held in the Czech Republic for children from Ukraine. The first batch of 30 children, with historical links to the Czech Republic, and five accompanying adults stayed in the Solenice accommodation facility of the Ministry of the Interior in the Příbram area, where they enjoyed a two-week stay filled with educational, leisure and therapeutic activities between 2 and 13 February.

The second round will begin today. Like the subsequent third round, it will involve Ukrainian children who have been internally displaced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior have worked very closely with the Příbram Parish Charity and Příbram Grammar School to organise these stays.

The Czech Republic stands alongside Germany, Sweden and Poland as one of the biggest and most systematic bilateral donors to Ukraine, measured in terms of activities and funding. Most of its activity is humanitarian – direct material and financial assistance to the displaced population and to people who remain in places of conflict, the provision of medical materials and care, including, where necessary, evacuation for treatment, the granting of scholarships to students who, for political or security reasons, cannot study in Ukraine, assistance for people with historical Czech links, and the support of civil society and freedom of the media. Since 2014, CZK 100 million has been set aside in aid for Ukraine.

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