A Stewartry doctor supporting the emergency response in Ukraine said she has been left “moved and helpless” by the response from people she is there to help.
Freda Newlands is part of a team from frontline medical aid charity UK-Med that recently flew out to the war-torn country.
They have been working with Caritas Ukraine to set up an international displaced people (IDP) shelter south of Lviv in the west of Ukraine.
Freda, an emergency medicine doctor at DGRI, said: “Just over three weeks ago, in Ukraine and UK, we were going about our usual business.
“Now, Ukraine has been utterly devastated by war. It’s a close neighbour and we are here to help.
“Our initial remit is to make assessments of the medical need in areas where internally displaced people have arrived.
“Predominantly woman and children, these thousands of internally displaced people have fled from their homes further east – leaving their fathers, husbands and sons to fight for their beloved Ukraine.
“We have seen these women protecting their children – sheltering them and feeding them within schools and shelters provided for their protection.
“Everyone is so grateful for our being here. One young man whom I met in a shop in Rzeszow close to the Polish border, put his hand on his heart to thank us for our help, he started to cry.”
Freda has previously worked with UK-Med in Bangladesh and Myanmar. She has also worked for charities in Gaza and North Jordan.
And although much of the focus of the conflict with Russia is in the east of Ukraine, that doesn’t mean life is easy for Freda and her colleagues in the west.
She said: “We feel far from the war in the west of Ukraine but the impact on these western cities is overwhelming – flooded with people escaping to find peace and security.
“The health needs begin to be apparent. Trauma and surgical requirements are clearly at the site of the conflict in the east and the Ukrainian health service is very advanced and well served by experienced personnel.
“It is clear that women and children need medical support - and this is where UK-Med hope to help.
“Imagine overcrowded dormitories, poor sanitation, no hygiene facilities and lack of laundry facilities. This is the perfect recipe for the potential spread of infection, so we hope to be able to provide primary care for them.
“There will be a need for the treatment of children with the usual childhood infections, ante-natal care, monitoring of chronic diseases and treatment of acute illness. UK-Med has the skilled experienced clinicians to deliver this care and we hope to start doing this very soon.”
UK-Med has launched a fundraising appeal to help with their response to the humanitarian crisis.
To donate, visit www.uk-med.org/ukraine-appeal
