A Thornhill-based landmine clearing charity has spoken of its concern for aid workers based in Ukraine.
The Halo Trust has around 430 staff in the country where it has been clearing mines in the Donbas region since 2014 but that work has stopped due to the conflict.
There is particular concern for staff members based in Mariupol, which has come under intense bombardment by Russia this week, who have not been in contact with the trust since the weekend.
A Halo spokesperson said: “Most worryingly we have 21 staff in Mariupol and we haven’t been able to establish communications with them since Saturday.
“The footage that has come out of Mariupol is devastating and looks very, very grim and we’re waiting desperately to hear that our colleagues are safe.”
A maternity hospital was struck by the Russians in the city this week, killing three people.
In Kramatorsk, Halo Trust staff have re-purposed their headquarters into temporary emergency accommodation for refugees arriving into the city.
The spokesperson added: “Most of our staff have some paramedic training and they’re delivering first aid to the population and they’re distributing our medical kits.
“We have to have medical supplies all of the time because of the hazardous nature of our work and we’re now making sure they’re able to be dispersed to those who need
them.
“Kramatorsk hasn’t been in the news as much, things have been relatively quiet but I spoke with a colleague this morning and she said there has been loud explosions and sirens throughout the night last
night.
“One of our colleagues in Kramatorsk, his apartment block was struck by a missile on Sunday.
“Fortunately he wasn’t at home and we have since been able to find accommodation for him and his family but clearly the situation in Kramatorsk could deteriorate quite quickly.”
British staff members left Kyiv two weeks ago and are currently setting up a temporary hub in Poland.
The spokesperson added: “We hope to establish a hub in Lviv as and when security permits.
“That will enable us to mobilise a response to do emergency clearances but we don’t know when that will be.”
