Newbury man shares experience delivering aid in Ukraine
A Newbury man has just returned from delivering aid to people in war-torn Ukraine.
And he now plans to give a series of presentations to “convey the reality of the ongoing humanitarian effort”.
Former soldier and performance poet John Learoyd, better known as John Poet, flew out to Poland on March 29, reaching the town of Krakow and then taking the train to the border town of Przemsyl – which he said is the main rail hub for refugees.
From there Mr Poet travelled by road to Medyka, a crossing point for refugees to the humanitarian groups that wait there to help them.
He then crossed into Ukraine and went to Lviv, where he found “many, many checkpoints”, “vast numbers of men and women in uniform” and “daily air raid sirens”.
The Newbury man, who joined the army at 16, but returned to his home town five years ago, said that as an ex-soldier who has worked with refugees in the past, he was not surprised by what he saw in Ukraine.
He added: “On arrival I met contacts I was aware of and attempted to get a feel for what the situation was.
“The first days were often frustrating and tiring, due to unreliable information, lack of transport or simply the enormity of the task at hand.
“Adapting was very quick and often you could find yourself in a different location undertaking different tasks on an hourly basis.
“Everything from securing food, medical and even small military items, to locating and transiting those who asked to seek safe haven.”
During his three-week stay, Mr Poet, who is also supporting the charity Highway to Help, helped move around 20 people, “all women and children”, including two refugees who made their way from Medyka to Thatcham, via Warsaw.
He said that he also distributed aid to places hundreds of miles to the north and east of Lviv.
“Lviv had a certain air of normality, with shops and restaurants open, but with a 10pm to 7am curfew in place,” he said.
“It also serves as the central point for humanitarian relief and press activity.”
Mr Poet said the resilience and strength of the refugees he met struck a chord with him.
“I can state, hand on heart, that not once have I heard any of them complain about anything other than Russia’s aggression,” he added.
He said he now hopes to go back in May, after raising funds to facilitate his trip – including funding a vehicle and finding more medical supplies.
Now back in the UK he aims to begin a series of presentations to “convey the reality of the ongoing humanitarian effort” to show people where their donations are being used.
He is also collecting donations, with the aim of reaching his £5,000 target. You can donate at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/assisting-people-in-need
Details of the presentations are to be announced.
