DRCM - Assistance for Ukraine

This action is the one that started all the projects. As early as March 2022, there were requests from Ukraine for specific medical assistance for victims with war injuries. In consultation with emergency doctors/specialists, the already existing equipment "HospiKit" was adapted in content to typical war injuries (focus on gunshot wounds, lung perforation, barotrauma, life-threatening haemorrhages, etcetera).

In Belgium, HospiKits are purchased from Hospital Without Borders (ZZG) and are taken via fully controlled transport to the Ukraine border or directly to Ukrainian territory.

From there, the kits are taken over by Rotary Ukraine, which ensures that, in consultation with the Ukrainian authorities, the kits are taken locally to 'the front line'; being the locations where fighting is ongoing, or to areas that have been liberated and where urgent help is needed for the local population; and thus these critical resources are needed.

Two types of kits are available:

• BACKPACKS used by medical teams on the ground after bombings, battles, landmine blasts, ... to attend to those affected on the ground. These backpacks cost €1,000/piece.
  The supply of backpacks has stopped because the red backpacks with yellow Rotary logo are being used as targets by Russian snipers. Several nurses, normally protected under the Geneva Conventions, were shot at and killed by Russian troops.
  
  
• METAL BOXES installed in medical posts to which victims are brought for critical first life-saving care. Here, people are stabilised and "rescued" before they can be transported to the real hospitals (which are no longer open because of the danger in the actual front zone, or which were looted by Russian troops). The metal cases cost (approx.) €4,800/piece.

With the liberation of large zones in eastern and southern Ukraine, the need for this equipment is very high.

The HospiKits are sometimes the first available medical supplies at the time the population is liberated or begins to return. These kits are used to administer initial care to both civilian and military casualties.

These include both adults and children.

There is currently a demand from Ukraine for at least 88 kits !

Large numbers of landmines and booby traps were placed by Russian forces in the areas they occupied in Ukraine. Recently, large chunks of these were recaptured by Ukrainian forces.

These areas, as well as zones to the north and east that were abandoned by the Russians earlier this year, must now be cleared of mines.

An area of about 7,000 square kilometres must be controlled, and mines and unexploded ordnance must be defused and cleared.

Traditionally, this is done by individuals, deminers, who search a piece of land individually or in a team.
This is relatively slow and involves danger for the deminers.

This action line aims to buy survey equipment to be linked to drones already in service (and funded by Rotary).

This 'survey equipment' is a magnetometer that will be attached to the drone, ground equipment and software.
When the drone flies over a surface, the magnetometer detects any metal objects (e.g. mines or parts of a bomb or missile) and automatically geo-locates them (the place) on a digital map with correct geo-location.

This way, deminers can see where possible explosive devices are located and how to get to them without risk.

This project achieves two objectives:

1. quickly scan a large area. With this equipment, checking 20,000 square metres in less than one day !
2. flying over a possible minefield avoids having to deploy people on the ground.

Each magnetometer costs about €21,000 and the aim is to be able to purchase two devices.
This project ties in with the overall Rotary project "Mine Free Ukraine" and in that framework, for example, training is already planned for users of the high-performance drones.

The vast area - 7,000 square kilometres - where landmines and unexploded obuses, aerial bombs and missiles may be located makes the challenge of demining them and making them freely usable again unimaginably challenging.

The priority of military deminers is obviously to clear zones that their own armed forces want to use.

The demining of "civilian zones", agricultural areas and settlement centres is increasingly being done by NGOs working with Ukraine's civilian governments for this purpose.

Many new teams of deminers are currently in training with the hope of sending new teams into the field within the coming weeks and months.

To comply with related international standards, each team must have mobile medical support, mostly in terrain difficult to access by ordinary vehicles.

At the request of our Ukrainian Rotary friends, we are therefore also going to look for old 4x4 vehicles that can be used as medical vehicles and for medical equipment for the aid workers going with the demining teams.

The concrete details of this medical equipment are still being worked out as we want to adapt the "kits" as much as possible to the specific equipment needed to care for blast injuries.

However, the search for old vehicles and a collection of funds for the purchase of medical equipment can already begin.

Artillery shelling, impact of missiles, shrapnel from explosions similar to landmines and gunshot wounds.

These are all causes of very severe facial mutilation due to the war situation in Ukraine.

As in our country, Ukraine had a number of maxillo-facial surgeons (facial/jaw) before the war and specific hospital departments for such procedures.

But nothing or no one was prepared for a very large number of severe mutilations.

On top of that, doctors were mobilised and hospitals destroyed, further reducing capacity.

Working closely with medical teams in Ukraine, Belgian maxillofacial specialists will help their colleagues by:

1. providing telediagnostics, allowing Belgian specialists to help their Ukrainian colleagas in the 'Golden Hour' and at all stages thereafter;
2. developing training via webinars, e-learning and coaching to raise the knowledge level of Ukrainian surgeons; and
3. collect and transfer specialised medical equipment to Ukraine.

In this project, RC Gent-Zuid DRCM (BEL) and Rotary Ukraine are working as general coordinators for a network of medical specialists.

If you wish to contribute to any of the projects:

• Action 1: via deposit for the HospiKits. ANY contribution (including less than €1,000) is welcome. All sums will be added up to purchase backpacks and suitcases.
• Action 2: via financial contribution to fund a magnetometer. Again, any contribution, however small, is welcome.
• Action 3: the purchase of these 'Demining Medical kits' will be through the ongoing HospiKit programme. Only, the contents of the kits will be adapted to my-injuries.
• Action 4: No financial contribution will be requested here. Medics (including non-Rotarians) who can contribute content are welcome !

Contact us for concrete information and cooperation.

We are also happy to come and make a detailed presentation in your own club; or in an organisation/company willing to support one of our projects.