German cities help their partner cities in the Ukraine - and the federal government helps them. He provides aid packages that are sent by the municipalities to the war country. Around 30 cities have participated so far. In Greifswald they pack a few things extra.
Greifswald (dpa/mv) - School furniture for three classrooms and playground equipment are neatly packed in a warehouse of the University Medicine Greifswald, as well as 75 laptops. In a few days they are to go on a journey to Drohobych near Lviv (Lemberg) in western Ukraine.
"The city of Drohobytsch and the surrounding region have taken in well over 14,000 internally displaced persons and are under enormous pressure," said Anett Dahms, the representative for city twinning in the Hanseatic city of Greifswald, the German Press Agency. To provide for the refugees, Drohobytsch wants to build a new school, among other things, and they want to help with that.
The furniture, laptops and toys were supplied by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Development Ministry, which pays for the relief supplies. The Hanseatic city packs battery-operated lamps including batteries, candles, non-perishable food and other necessary items.
Greifswald is one of 30 cities in Germany that have taken part in the relief campaign and have ordered a package of relief supplies. GIZ provides five packages from which the German municipalities and their Ukrainian partners can choose: protection against the cold (heating stoves), supply and catering (mobile kitchens and food), protection of children and young people (equipping schools with tables, chairs, tablets and play equipment ), municipal vehicles (e.g. minibuses and ambulances) and generators.
"The German municipalities themselves collect what aid packages are needed within their partnerships," said a spokeswoman for GIZ to the German Press Agency. "They also take care of the transport and delivery of the goods to their Ukrainian partner communities."
According to the spokeswoman, German cities are very interested. So far, 30 municipalities have requested aid packages. All are expected to be delivered later this year. Other cities and communities have expressed interest. GIZ has around 3.6 million euros at its disposal for the procurement of aid supplies.
The Schwerin Europe Minister Bettina Martin (SPD) meanwhile announced that the state would take over the 4000 euro transport costs for the aid delivery from Greifswald to Drohobytsch. She announced further relief efforts for the coming months. "It's about helping the people of Ukraine through this difficult winter and supporting them in rebuilding their homeland," emphasized Martin.
