'Aid' lorries going to Ukraine...

[Blurp]

My Facebook timeline is suddenly full of requests from people who are filling lorries full of things to take to Ukraine - they're asking for donations of things like clothes, toiletries and food.

None of them seem to mention the name of a charity or any specifics - mostly it comes across as though some random bloke is just going to fill his lorry with stuff and drive it "to Ukraine".

At first I thought it was a great idea, but the more I read the more I'm questioning it. Not that I think the people doing it are dodgy or anything like that, more that I'm not sure how useful it would be.

Like, do they really need lorries turning up all over the place with random stuff inside? I've no doubt that much of the stuff would be useful, but how do they even start to sort through it and match it to people who need it? Where do they even go to drop it off - do they just pick a random road on the border and park there and give it out? I've seen a few people asking questions like this on the posts, but they tend to get ignored or shouted down.

As far as I'm aware, there are no issues with supply of goods to countries bordering Ukraine, so isn't it better to donate money to organisations already on the ground so that they can bulk buy what they need?

Again, I'm not knocking the people who organise these lorries or the people who donate to them; I'm just wondering how useful it really is.

I too am interested in the logistics of this

No, if you want to support give your money to the Red Cross, they know how to do these things

Same with people trying to collect insulin to post. How's that going to work then.

If you don't have the cash to donate give it to an appropriate charity shop and let them convert it to cash

I thought legit charities always ask for money so that they can buy new, labelled things, rather than having a load of unsorted stuff arriving.

Yes I’ve been trying to figure it out.

I think the most trustworthy are those who have links in Poland or Ukraine who can work out where to take stuff.

I think you have a point OP. This is well intentioned but may not actually be that useful. Better to give to recognises charities who have people on the ground to organise distribution etc.

Agreed - I think there will be bin bags full of random stuff lying around not being used. Who knows where it's being sent?

I would imagine it's better to send money to a charity who can then buy what is needed. Also it's best to buy in Europe rather than transporting all this stuff across the channel.

I think people just feel better if they have done something.

Recognised not recognises

I think you have a a point. Last night I saw one on an Amazon wish list. I loaded the basked with £200 of mini first aid boxes. Then my DP said are they really going to need mini sets with a couple of cheap plasters and safety pins. Probably not. I donated the cash to Red Cross instead.

Agreed - it is well intentioned but people need to leave this to the experts. Collecting donated items for refugees arriving in the UK is different altogether.

And if people don’t want to donate to ‘big charities’ because they spend money on admin and running costs - it takes admin to get food, medicine and aid into a war zone.

Our school is collecting things, but haven’t specified how/where they’re donating. I think it’s probably being driven by the older children. I’m not sure how to phrase the question without pissing on their chips.

It is difficult when you want to help but know that there will always be someone to take advantage.

At our local collection point everything is being sorted into boxes and labelled so that it is easily transported and identifiable. Our items are being moved to a bigger hub at the end of the week and then on to the Polish boarder.

Donations can also be made to charities, in our case there is a national charity with its base just down the road. Chernobyl Childrens Life Line have been active in Ukraine and Belarus for 35 years and have strong, established links to get the money where it is needed now and for the rebuild when many others step back.

We’ve got two people so far in our small village who have asked (separately) for donations to fill a van and they are personally driving across Europe to deliver stuff to the Ukraine.

The comments sections are full of admiration for them and offers of supplies.

I honestly don’t think the people who set this up, who are obviously well meaning, have a clue what they will do when they get there. Like there’s going to be one huge warehouse on the borders for random vans to turn up.

A lot of knee jerk reactions from people desperate to do something but also to show everyone else that they are doing something.

One of the Polish community groups in my town is collecting clothes, toys etc, but there's a specific destination, which is a similar group/community centre in Poland that is acting as a first stop for Ukrainian arrivals. They seem to know what they're doing, and I hope people wouldn't be put off from donating because they're not a big charity.

I don't know why they'd bother if it was pointless. They must know these things are needed out there, and I don't think they're pretending so they can hold a massive jumble sale instead.

How is anyone to know that random lorries of stuff won’t be nicked by the Russians anyway?

I’ll only give to the Red Cross or e.g. the DEC.

Seems to be the polish community here running this. They have a list of things which seems to make a lot of sense (thermal underwear, supplies for babies) so I suspect they have local contacts.

A lot of the items are going to areas with lots of refugees, so around the border of Ukraine.

The Polish centre local to us is doing a run. The things they are asking for are very specific, things like basic medicines, sanitary products, coats, blankets. They are taking them to the Polish/Ukrainian border where people are crossing.

I find it depressing that whenever people opt to do something humanitarian someone has to piss on it. This has always happened in wars - we have a relative who did similar collections during WW2. I have no idea if people were snipey about it then too, but what they did was a good thing.

Yeah there are some of these on my fb timeline too and i think they are going to neighbouring countries like Poland and Romania.

I agree. Some of it may make sense - the ones going to Poland - but cash is far, far better. I guess people want to feel that they’ve helped by sending unwanted baby clothes or whatever..

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

How is anyone to know that random lorries of stuff won’t be nicked by the Russians anyway?

I’ll only give to the Red Cross or e.g. the DEC.

Yes, the Russian army are very keen to get their hands on tampons apparently

We have 2 large hubs near us and many more across London, who will sort donations and then lorries will drive to the Polish border, the one I've been volunteering at is very well organised.

It happened a lot during the Bosnian war in the 90s, and I think is connected to the war being in Europe and so within reach.

And yes, dealing with wandering aid convoys in volatile areas is just another problem. When peacekeeping, you have to keep them safe (tying up personel and resources to negotiate safe passage and protect just in case) diverting effort from other tasks, and - unlike the larger charities - they may not heed security advice on routes/itineraries, which puts everyone at avoidable risk.

I hope, for everyone's sake, that any ad hoc convoys go no further than Poland and places where displaced people are receiving assistance.

And I wouid urge people to give money, if they can, rather than things.

I have a lorry leaving tomorrow am, feel free to come and jump on it to see how it all works at the other end.

@ClutterofStarlings

Our school is collecting things, but haven’t specified how/where they’re donating. I think it’s probably being driven by the older children. I’m not sure how to phrase the question without pissing on their chips.

This is the sort of thing I'm talking about. I'm sure it's well-intentioned, but it feels more like "we want to feel like we're doing something" rather than "we have looked into this and this is the most useful thing we can do".

Hundreds of thousands of people are on the Polish boarder. I do think, initially it is a good idea to send things which are urgently needed. We have a collection point and the main items are toiletries, baby formula and nappies. If the refugees are lucky enough not to need them, then local people can use them.

A Polish lady posted this on our local FB group this week:

Please consider this before deciding how to donate to Ukraine!

Things require space, storage and people to manage them at their destination. Many Polish border crossings are already jammed with vehicles and people on both sides.

Your pounds buy more in Poland, than they do here. Transport also consumes additional cost. The humanitarian organisations which are on the ground know best what is needed and how to manage it.

People's solidarity and generosity is wonderful, please keep donating items you already have (eg sleeping bags). But if you're heading to the supermarket to buy stock, and have the choice, please consider sending money to an authorised charity, instead of full trucks.

Above all, if you're doing something, anything - thank you!
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