Sussex residents unite to show their support for Ukrainians who are fleeing their country
Collections, appeals and words of support come from across the county as residents play their part to help...
Kind-hearted residents have been coming together with donations pouring in for Ukrainian refugees who have fled their country.
Schools, businesses and charities from across the area have rallied into action collecting clothes, toiletries and other essentials as well as fund-raising to help the people of Ukraine in the wake of the country’s invasion by Russian forces.
West Sussex-based Children on the Edge is appealing for donations as it supports those fleeing the Ukraine and heading to Moldova.
Co-founder and CEO Rachel Bentley said: “Children on the Edge has a long history of working in eastern Europe, it’s where we began. I spoke with our contact in Moldova over the weekend, whose organisation is supporting the families that have already begun arriving in Chișinău.
“Whilst local people have been generously providing food and clothing, the pressing need at the moment is funding for fuel and electricity to provide heat and light in the centre where refugees are being hosted.”
The charity is also in touch with their Romanian contacts who are setting up accommodation facilities on the Romania/Ukraine border and inland in Romania.
If you can help visit www. childrenontheedge.org.
Many others have been taking matters into their own hands. Generous West Sussex residents met at The Swan Inn pub in Midhurst on Monday after the pub’s owner appealed for volunteers to drive vital aid to refugees in Poland.
Digby Furneaux, owner of pub, said: “It was absolutely amazing for an idea I came up with yesterday morning. I thought it would be a few mates but 50 people turned up.”
Among the attendees were a number of people from up and down the country who attended via Zoom, including from Leicester and London.
As many as 30 people have now volunteered to drive a van to deliver goods and HGV lorries are being lent to the cause as well as the support of two HVG drivers.
But more help is still needed.
Animal rescue Paws and Whiskers Sussex is appealing for foster homes and donations to help rescue abandoned pets in Ukraine.
The organisation has joined forces with Final Stop Rescue, Rescuing European Animals in Need (REAN) and Pawprints to Freedom Rescue to arrange transport and provide refuge for the animals that have been left behind by those forced to flee Ukraine.
The rescue mission will see the organisations transport abandoned pets from Ukraine to Romania, where they will be cared for in a shelter near the city of Tecuci.
The animals already living in this shelter — stray cats and dogs that have been picked up from the streets of Romania — will be transported to UK foster homes provided by the rescues, freeing up space for the animals escaping the war-zone.
Director Hannah Carter said: “The animals of Ukraine have found themselves in the middle of a war zone. The rescue centres of Ukraine are at bursting point and their staff are refusing to flee.
“P.A.W.S believes that all animals deserve to feel safe, regardless of where they are from.”
Since appealing for foster carers on Facebook, the rescue has received more than 80 applications from animal-lovers offering their support.
For more information about Paws and Whiskers Sussex’s work, and to find out how to make a donation, visit the organisation’s Facebook page.
West Sussex contines to show its solidarity with Ukrainians and the flag of Ukraine is to be flown outside County Hall, in Chichester.
During a West Sussex County Council meeting on Monday, councillors from all sides of the political divide voiced their support for the besieged country and their contempt for Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Chairman Pete Bradbury said he had asked officers to source a Ukrainian flag and would be writing to the country’s ambassador to express the council’s sympathy and support.
He added: “I also intend to write to the Prime Minister to express our support for the taking of a strong united international stance, engaging such measures as may be needed to persuade the Russian government to end its aggressive actions towards Ukraine.”
The leaders of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour all echoed his views.
Paul Marshall, leader of the council, said: “I think each and every one of us are horrified to see the events unravel in Ukraine – to look at the Russian government – and it’s not the people, it’s the government – taking this awful stance.”
Mr Marshall asked for the chair’s letter to Boris Johnson to include a call for the UK’s stance on refugees to be aligned with that of the EU, to ensure those fleeing the war could find safety.
Kirsty Lord, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said Russia’s actions were ‘a wake up call to all of us how precious democracy is’.
She added: “I think we’re all devastated and scared to see this happen – we’d all hoped that it wouldn’t come to this.”
Each and every one of us are horrified to see the events unravel in Ukraine PAUL MARSHAL WSCC leader