Various shots, staff in front of WHO warehouse in Lviv
Various shots, staff working inside warehouse with WHO health supplies in Lviv
SOUNDBITE (English) Tarik Jarasevic, WHO spokesperson: “We are here in Lviv, western Ukraine, in a newly established WHO warehouse that we put in place immediately after the beginning of the military offensive in Ukraine. This place will serve us to receive medical supplies that we will then, hopefully, be able to deliver to health facilities across the country.
Already in the first few days we brought 36 metric tonnes of medical material, mainly needed to treat wounded people and perform surgeries. As well, there were some essential medicines for other sorts of diseases. Right now we are talking with the Ministry of Health to define exact needs because in the first place we are trying to bring in as much supplies as possible, but then we need to get an exact list of medicines that are needed from health authorities, so we have more targeted deliveries in the coming days and weeks. And just today we have received, for example, two generators that will help health facilities in those areas where electricity may be an issue.”
Med shots, generators inside warehouse.
Various shots, setting up Samaritans Purse field hospital in a parking lot in Lviv.
SOUNDBITE (English) John Troke, Samaritan’s Purse: “We’re setting up a hospital that will treat over 100 to 200 patients per day. It’s got 50-70 bed capacity - an inpatient capacity - a trauma room, a triage, four wards - two male, two female wards - and then we have four ICU beds as well as two operating room theaters.
Various shots, setting up Samaritan’s Purse field hospital in a parking lot in Lviv.
SOUNDBITE (English) John Troke, Samaritans Purse: “One of the biggest needs is medical supplies, as well as staffing. And as patient loads pick up, and more patients come, they are really going to need facilities. So our goal here is to take, to take really the pressure off the facilities that are there right now, and really be able to unburden them of the patients they are having.
Wide shot, outside Lviv Central Station
Various shots, Ukrainians heading to the Lviv Central Station to leave for Poland.
Various shots, interior of Lviv Central Station; trains arriving
Med shot, people affix sign to lamppost reading “Free buses to Poland”
Various shots, a volunteer-led space in Lviv Central Station above the main platform where women and young children can rest, warm up and have a meal before continuing on to Poland.
STORYLINE
On March 7 2022, in Lviv, Ukraine, health support is arriving in a number of ways.
At a warehouse on the outskirts of the city, recently arrived World Health Organization (WHO) health supplies are readied for onward distribution.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tarik Jarasevic, WHO spokesperson: “We are here in Lviv, western Ukraine, in a newly established WHO warehouse that we put in place immediately after the beginning of the military offensive in Ukraine. This place will serve us to receive medical supplies that we will then, hopefully, be able to deliver to health facilities across the country. Already in the first few days we brought 36 metric tonnes of medical material, mainly needed to treat wounded people and perform surgeries. As well, there were some essential medicines for other sorts of diseases. Right now we are talking with the Ministry of Health to define exact needs because in the first place we are trying to bring in as much supplies as possible, but then we need to get an exact list of medicines that are needed from health authorities, so we have more targeted deliveries in the coming days and weeks. And just today we have received, for example, two generators that will help health facilities in those areas where electricity may be an issue.”
Meanwhile, an emergency medical team from non-governmental organization and WHO partner Samaritan’s Purse is setting up a field hospital in a parking lot to relieve pressure on the city’s health system.
SOUNDBITE (English) John Troke, Samaritans Purse: “One of the biggest needs is medical supplies, as well as staffing. And as patient loads pick up, and more patients come, they are really going to need facilities. So our goal here is to take, to take really the pressure off the facilities that are there right now, and really be able to unburden them of the patients they are having.
WHO is working closely with its offices in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, as well as with health partners, to rapidly respond to the emergency in Ukraine and to minimize disruptions to the delivery of critical health services.
About WHO
The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States, across six regions and from more than 150 offices, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and wellbeing.