Despite massive attacks and extreme winter conditions, Johanniter continues to provide medical care, psychosocial support and treatment for the seriously injured in Germany in the fifth year of the war.
Four years after the start of the full scale war, the population continues to suffer from increasing attacks, which target civillian infrastructure facilities including electricity, heating and water plants and medical and educational facilities Now, in winter, the consequences of these attacks are particularly evident. Many people have to endure the coldest winter since the start of the full scale war with massive disruptions to electricity, heating and water or. With temperatures reaching more than minus 20 degrees celcius, this is an enormous additional psychological and physical strain on top of the worry about air attacks and family members at the front.
‘We at Johanniter condemn the attacks and their massive impact on the population. We also feel the psychological strain on our employees and partners. Despite everything, they try to be there for the people every day and provide them with protection, warmth and medical assistance,’ says Oliver Meermann, member of the Federal Executive Board of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V.
Focus on medical aid
In particular, the widespread destruction of hospitals and other healthcare facilities means that people with serious injuries or illnesses now have reduced access to medical care. Johanniter and its partners are caring for them in a variety of ways.
For example, four clinics in different regions of the country offer free hepatitis C treatment for women and provide them with psychological and legal support. Stroke patients receive comprehensive care in a renovated neurology department at St Luke's Hospital in Lviv. In addition, 16 medical facilities in the conflict-affected region of Sumy have been supplied with wood briquettes to ensure the facilities remain heated and operational during the winter period. In addition, Johanniter and its four partners provided essential supplies last year. 1,158 people were evacuated from the front line and taken to safer locations. 20,000 people received aid packages, vouchers, seeds and agricultural equipment. Johanniter also helped 1,815 people to restore their identity documents and offered 1,267 women and their children protection from violence in women's shelters.
Medical treatment for seriously injured people in Germany
Since 2022, Ukraine has experienced supply shortages, resulting in the transportation of seriously sick and injured people to Germany via the European Union Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) system. These individuals are then distributed to hospitals across Germany through the Kleeblatt system. Alongside the german aid organisations Arbeiter-SamariterBund (ASB), Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG), Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) and Malteser Hilfsdienst (MHD), Johanniter provides supplementary social care and medical repatriation for these patients.
Since 2022, over 1,700 MEDEVAC patients have been transported to Germany. More than 1,000 of these patients received additional social care from the aid organisations, and 115 of their relatives were also supported. Additionally, 336 repatriations to Ukraine have been carried out, during which 74 relatives have also been transported back. This project is funded by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, in close coordination with the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI) and the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).
Background:
Johanniter have been active in Ukraine since the start of the aggressive war, working with their partners to implement programmes throughout the country that improve people's living conditions. They have an office and eleven employees in Kyiv. Johanniter Federal Centre for Crisis Management (JBK) is implementing the project to care for the injured and sick in Germany.
Call for donations
Due to the continuing high demand for aid, the Johanniter are dependent on donations for Ukraine. Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. Reference: ‘Ukraine’ IBAN: DE94 3702 0500 0433 0433 00 (Bank für Sozialwirtschaft)
Note for editorial offices:
Ukraine on the ground: Country Office Manager Adam McKerrow is available for interviews. Ukraine aid in Germany: Johanniter Business Unit Manager ‘Crisis Management & Emergency Aid’ Anne Ernst is available for interviews on the project ‘Supplementary social care and medical repatriation for seriously ill and injured patients from Ukraine’. Please contact the press office at medien@johanniter.de