Ukrainian Red Cross

🫂 Starting this year, Ukrainian Red Cross psychologists will provide support in 23 regions   In a time when each day brings new challenges, the role of psychologists becomes crucial in restoring and maintaining the mental health of citizens. Psychologists working with the Ukrainian Red Cross Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team play a vital role in helping those affected by psychological trauma on the path to recovery. The main areas of work for psychologists of the Ukrainian Red Cross ⤵️ 🔵 Psychological support for victims: Psychologists provide professional assistance to individuals affected by war, natural disasters, or other crisis situations. This support may be offered on an individual or group basis, particularly in cases involving trauma, loss of loved ones, loss of home, or other distressing experiences. 🔵 Psychoeducational (awareness-raising) activities to enhance adaptive skills, foster emotional resilience, and help cope with stress. 🔵 Prevention and early intervention: Psychologists work to detect and address mental health issues at early stages, organising activities to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. 🔵 Support for volunteers and staff of the Ukrainian Red Cross to prevent professional burnout and ensure ongoing mental health care. 🔵 Integration into local communities: As part of their mental health and psychosocial support programmes, psychologists work with communities to assist in the integration of internally displaced persons, build supportive networks, and promote healthy communication.   Psychologists of the Ukrainian Red Cross employ modern methods and approaches, including: ✔ WHO-recommended interventions to address stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. ✔ Group work to support survivors of emergencies and reduce feelings of isolation. ✔ Crisis intervention to provide immediate psychological support in response to traumatic events. ✔ Psychoeducational programmes designed to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and combat the stigma surrounding psychological support.   Currently, Ukrainian Red Cross psychologists are working in the following regions: Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Lviv, and Uzhhorod. 📍 In 2025, they will expand to include the Kyiv region, Poltava, Odesa, Rivne, and Volyn.   Thanks to the work of psychologists, individuals not only receive immediate assistance but also comprehensive support to restore their psychological balance and return to normal life.   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #MHPSS #MentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #PsychologicalSupport #CrisisIntervention #CommunitySupport #HealthAndWellbeing #Resilience #MentalHealthMatters 

📦 248,000 food parcels were distributed by Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers in Kherson in 2024   Throughout 2024, Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers, in cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP), provided food assistance to the residents of Kherson. The initiative focused on supporting elderly people aged 60 and over and individuals with disabilities who remained in the city despite ongoing hostilities. A total of 248,000 food parcels were distributed.   Each parcel weighs over 13 kg and contains long-term storage products such as canned food, pasta, oil, sugar, and cereals, ensuring that the most vulnerable residents receive essential food supplies.   💬 "The food parcels enable us to cover a significant part of the monthly nutritional needs of those in areas of constant risk. This is the support we could not provide without the help of our partners," said Svitlana Shcherbyna, the WFP project coordinator for the Kherson regional branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross.   Despite the challenging conditions, volunteers remain close to the people of Kherson, providing ongoing assistance. Their work is vital to saving lives and protecting the health of those in need.   🤝 We are grateful to our international partners for enabling us to help those in need. Together, we can do more!   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #Kherson #HumanitarianAid #FoodParcels #SupportUkraine #WFP #HopeInAction #StandWithUkraine

🔴 Yesterday, 15 January, the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team in the Donetsk region assisted in the aftermath of an airstrike on Kramatorsk. A shell struck a multi-storey residential building, causing significant damage.   The volunteers promptly conducted door-to-door visits, providing essential assistance to the residents of the building who had been affected by the strike. They then organised the distribution of construction materials 🛠️, including tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, and OSB boards, for temporary repairs to the damaged properties. Volunteers also distributed drinking water.   According to the Donetsk Regional State Administration, nine people were injured in the attack, including two children. Shrapnel damaged 18 multi-storey buildings, three educational institutions, and an infrastructure facility.   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #NotATarget #EmergencyResponse #ThanksVolunteers #Donetsk #Kramatorsk #WarRelief #CivilianSupport #Airstrike #Resilience

🚫 Forced mobilisation of residents in the occupied territories of Ukraine constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and is classified as a war crime under the Rome Statute   The temporarily occupied territories are part of Ukraine's internationally recognised territory but are not under the de facto control of Ukrainian authorities due to Russia’s occupation during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. Under international humanitarian law (IHL), fundamental human rights must be upheld in occupied territories. However, the Russian occupying authorities flagrantly violate this obligation, as well as numerous other provisions of IHL, including the prohibition of forced conscription of Ukrainian citizens into the Russian military.   📜 The forced mobilisation of citizens in the occupied territories is prohibited by Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949):   ➡ The Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces. No pressure or propaganda which aims at securing voluntary enlistment is permitted.   📜 Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines the forced mobilisation of citizens in the occupied territories as a war crime:   ➡ (v) Compelling a prisoner of war or other protected person to serve in the forces of a hostile Power; ➡ (xv) Compelling the nationals of the hostile party to take part in the operations of war directed against their own country, even if they were in the belligerent's service before the commencement of the war.   The dissemination of knowledge about international humanitarian law is one of the statutory activities of the Ukrainian Red Cross. Follow our updates for timely and reliable information.   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #InternationalHumanitarianLaw #IHL #GenevaConvention #RomeStatute #InternationalCriminalCourt #HumanRights #WarCrime #ForcedMobilisation #InternationalLaw #OccupiedTerritories #UkraineWar #JusticeForUkraine #StandWithUkraine

🚑 In the Vinnytsia region, a meeting was held to develop cooperation between the Ukrainian Red Cross and the Zhmerynka Primary Healthcare Centre   The Ukrainian Red Cross mobile health units will offer support through transport and medical staff to strengthen the centre's operations. People will have the opportunity to receive health consultations, over-the-counter medicines and referrals to specialist doctors. The project will cover fuel costs and the team's salaries. The vehicle will operate within the centre’s service area to provide assistance to vulnerable populations.   🤝 The management team outlined the steps for joint, systematic cooperation between organisations at the community level to address each patient's individual needs.   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #MobileHealthUnits #MHU #Vinnytsia #HealthForAll #CommunityCare #PrimaryHealthcare #HealthPartnership #CommunitySupport #MedicalAid #MobileHealth #VulnerablePopulations #HealthcareAccess

🗣️ "Nataliia Polikarpivna is a psychologist and seems to have some kind of heavenly power," says Mariia, a beneficiary of the Ukrainian Red Cross Home-Based Care programme.   Nataliia Lytvynenko is a social helper at the Ukrainian Red Cross. Every day, she cares for older adults and people with disabilities. Nataliia has met many of her beneficiaries in states of deep depression. Still, through her daily care, she has helped them gradually regain emotional balance and find the strength to live. Her attention and sincerity inspire trust and gratitude, and her beneficiaries begin to care for her in return.   Nataliia is actively supported by her husband, who is also a volunteer and works as an electrician. In difficult times, Nataliia finds inspiration in knowing that her work brings real benefits and fills her life with meaning.   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #HomeBasedCare #SocialSupport #ElderlyCare #DisabilitySupport #UkraineCare #NotAlone 

🫂 440,300 services were provided to residents of the Sumy region last year as part of the Ukrainian Red Cross Home-Based Care programme   👉 Since December 2022, the Ukrainian Red Cross has been running the Home-Based Care programme in the Sumy region. As part of this initiative, 304 individuals are currently receiving assistance from 54 social helpers. Last year, a total of 440,300 services were provided, and 43,800 visits were made. The services also include the provision of personal protective equipment, hygiene supplies, and mobility aids. The programme covers 40 villages across various districts of the region.   These figures represent only the specific services provided by social helpers — ranging from cleaning and cooking to changing bed linen and assisting individuals with limited mobility. This list does not include more subjective aspects such as attention, compassion, care, and communication. In fact, emotional support from social helpers is particularly crucial today.   ℹ️ It is important to note that the Home-Based Care programme is designed to assist lonely elderly individuals and people with disabilities who require care. The services provided include household assistance, social and hygiene support, psychosocial care, and more. The activities in the Sumy region are implemented by the Ukrainian Red Cross with the support of the Swedish Red Cross.   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #HomeBasedCare #SocialSupport #ElderlyCare #DisabilitySupport #UkraineCare #NotAlone #CommunitySupport #Sumy

💪 Volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team in the Dnipro region participated in joint exercises with the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Dnipro region.   🌊 The aim of the tactical and specialised water rescue training was to enhance the preparedness of first responders and volunteers for water-related emergencies and ensure they could provide the necessary assistance to victims using specialised equipment.   During the training, they practised water rescue techniques, which will enable them to respond quickly and professionally in real-life emergencies. Volunteers and first responders tested their ability to overcome obstacles with the Bohun all-terrain vehicle 🚙 and searched for victims using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with thermal imaging cameras 🛰️. #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #Dnipro #WaterRescue #EmergencyResponse #FirstResponders #VolunteersInAction #RescueTraining #StateEmergencyService

🛏️ Supporting medical facilities is an important aspect of the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross   Recently, the team of the Odesa regional branch delivered 30 beds and sets of bed linen to a hospital where the wounded are being treated. These will be used in shelters, as patients are often forced to stay there due to frequent air raids in the city. The use of these beds will significantly improve both the conditions of the patients' stays and their overall well-being.   We stand by those in need! 💙   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #ThanksVolunteers #Odesa #HealthcareSupport #PatientCare #CompassionInAction

📈 Do you know how to test business ideas and create prototypes?   Testing ideas in practice is an important part of any startup. Participants in the REDpreneurUA Programme work on prototypes of their products, test concepts, and receive feedback from experts. This process helps them avoid early-stage mistakes and enter the market with well-developed solutions.   💡 But how do you test a business idea and create a product that consumers truly need? Prototyping, a key stage in any startup’s development, is the answer to this question. In the REDpreneurUA Programme, with the support of our partner, the School of ME, participants gain expert knowledge and practical tools to develop their ideas. Working alongside professional coaches and mentors, they create prototypes of products and services, test their concepts with potential audiences, receive valuable feedback from both experts and users, and learn how to refine their ideas based on the data they collect.   🎯 Prototyping is not just about the technical side; it’s also about understanding customer needs, crafting a unique experience, and introducing innovations that address real-world problems.   We stand by those in need! We support participants at every stage!   Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #REDpreneurUA #REDpreneur #NachbarInNot #SocialEntrepreneurship #SocialImpact #SocialBusiness #StartupSupport #BusinessIdeas #Prototyping #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #ProductDevelopment #CustomerNeeds