“Drugs do not arrive” Ukraine The suffering of NGOs that continue to support April 18, 18:47

The Japanese NGO "

Chernobyl Children's Fund" has been supporting children with cancer and intractable diseases in Ukraine for more than 30 years.

It is a pioneer among the support groups that are active locally.

As the Russian army continues to invade the country, the NGO is now receiving a series of messages from those who have supported it, complaining about the dire situation in the area.

(World News reporter Mayu Yoshida)

Appeal for peace from the bed

A woman lying on the bed.

She is Sabina Kujimiku (22), who lives in northern Ukraine.

She is born with an incurable disease in which her spinal cord and spine are not fully developed.

She has had her surgery over and over again.

The city was besieged by Russian troops, and Sabina sent a message complaining about her desperate situation to a Japanese NGO that had been assisted.

From Sabina's email,

"There is no water, communication, or electricity in my city.

Everything is a very scary situation.

And the wound on the leg that had been operated on during this time has opened ...

There was no humanitarian corridor and the supermarket was almost out of food.

We have at most a few weeks' worth of food. ”

“ Citizens are suffering from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I pray to God that I can avoid the bombs and hide in the shelter and stay safe by dawn.

I'm in the middle of a battle right now.

Please support us, everyone. "

Distress of NGOs who cannot deliver medicines

The message was received by Mari Sasaki, the secretary general of the Chernobyl Children's Fund.

The worst Chernobyl (Chernobyl) nuclear accident in history in 1986 during the former Soviet era.

For more than 30 years, this NGO has helped children with thyroid cancer and those with intractable diseases in the area surrounding the nuclear power plant.

After reading the email, Mr. Sasaki really thought, "I want to go to the site to help," but as the war continued, I couldn't do anything and was overwhelmed by the feeling of helplessness.

Mari Sasaki

"I just want you to survive. I pray for that. I feel a strong resentment at the situation where people who have been hurt not only in their bodies but also in their hearts by the Chernobyl accident are suffering again."

This is a picture drawn by one of the children supported by the fund.

Scars after surgery to remove the thyroid gland are depicted.

Mr. Sasaki has watched Ukrainian children grow up and grow up while fighting illness.

He has delivered medicines and helped with treatment costs for a total of 3,000 children.

However, as the war prolongs, we have lost contact with many who have supported us.

Some people who have finally received the e-mail are asking for help, such as "I haven't received the medicine" or "I can't receive treatment."

Mari Sasaki

"It's really disappointing that things that have been steadily accumulated over the years to protect the lives of children are easily destroyed in the war."

A woman with thyroid cancer scared by the Russian army's eastern attack

I'm Irina (30's, pseudonym) living in the eastern Donetsk region.

Irina had surgery for thyroid cancer at the age of 12, and later found abnormalities in her kidneys and ovaries.

She has received support from the Chernobyl Children's Fund for the costs of medicine and surgery.

The e-mail from Mr. Irina described the harsh situation of being scared by the Russian army's attack without receiving any treatment.

From Irina's email,

"No one here can give me any advice or treatment for my illness.

Blood pressure is also high due to the fear of attack.

Today, I heard a violent attack sound from a distance.

The war is now said to move east of Ukraine, again in Donetsk Oblast.

It's scary ... "

As the Russian army intensifies its offensive to eastern Ukraine, Mr. Sasaki writes emails every day to confirm Mr. Irina's safety.

Mr. Sasaki is impatient when the invasion of the Russian army makes it impossible to receive medical treatment, worsens the symptoms of many people who have been involved, and endangers his life.

Mari Sasaki

"They need medicines to survive, and the health hazards of not having medicines are huge. In addition, vulnerable people are at risk from bombing. I feel that I am in the most difficult situation at such times. "

To continue to support

At the end of March, I received an email from Mr. Sasaki.

Immediately after the invasion, Sabina, who was informed that she had no place to escape and had no hope, informed her that she and her friends were able to evacuate to Poland safely.

But there are also concerns.

Her mother, who had cared for Sabina, remained in Ukraine with her elderly grandmother.

I haven't heard details about whether Sabina was able to receive treatment at the evacuation site.

Medical conditions in Ukraine are also getting worse as the invasion prolongs.

According to the WHO summary, between February 24th and April 16th, when Russia began its invasion, 120 medical institutions were attacked.

Medical supplies cannot be delivered in areas where fierce battles continue.

“I want to help even if I can't go to the site,”

says Mr. Sasaki, who found a Swedish NGO that delivers medicines to Ukraine and decided to cooperate and provide support.

Frightened by the horrors of bombing and shooting, and even the desperate situation of running out of medicine to live.

Many Ukrainians who continue to fight against illness during the war continue to suffer many times.

World News Department

Mayu Yoshida

Joined in 2015.

After working at the Kanazawa and Nagasaki stations, she has been in the World News department of the international broadcasting station since November last year.

* The Japanese government has changed the place name notation of "Chernobyl" to "Chernobyl" derived from Ukrainian.

The place name "Chernobyl" has been used for many years in the "Chernobyl Children's Fund", and it has been established worldwide and historically. I'm going to continue.