Fiona responds to ‘anguished cry for help’

A fearless Cork woman has set off for war-torn Ukraine to bring much needed aid to thousands of people from babies to the elderly.

Fiona Corcoran, founder of the Cork-based charity The Greater Chernobyl Cause set off for Ukraine from Poland on Wednesday as efforts intensify to bring aid to thousands of victims of the 3 year long war.

A drone strike hit the protective shelter over Chernobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor last Thursday night. Latest reports suggest radiation levels remain normal and stable.

stable, though the plant’s chief engineer, Oleksandr Titarchuk, said the possibility of a leak of radioactive substances could not be ruled out.

Defiantly, Ms Corcoran is heading for Prybirsk, an area just outside the exclusion zone, where the charity has been desperately trying to ensure proper care for the elderly residents of a nursing home. It responded to what it said was an "anguished cry for help" by purchasing specialised beds, mobility aids, kitchen and sanitation equipment, transforming the area into a genuine residential care facility.

The most recent acquisition was an ambulance, which will be used to transport patients to the capital city, where they will be able to obtain the very skilled treatment that they require. Of the 30 residents, half are bedridden.

The charity has reported that much work has still to be done.

Over the next few days, the charity will be criss-crossing the vast areas attending to many other needs thrown up by the horrendous war. These include help for those looking after injured Ukrainian soldiers at the military hospital, a baby home in the capital, devastated villages and refugee families who have fled to the countryside to escape the worst of the fighting.

The charity has reported that many have left behind the ruins of their homes, everything lost as the Russian bombardment brought catastrophic destruction.

Ms Corcoran said: “Horrified by the scale of the pain and suffering which they have witnessed on their own television screens, the people of Ireland have put their hands in their pockets. I cannot thank you enough for your generous support yet so much more is required.

“A recently required Combi van has been able to transport food, clothes, generators and other essential equipment across hundreds of miles of war-torn territory. Families continue to be left without shelter, water and even the most basic amenities.

“Each day, the needs grow greater. Until we can see an end to the fighting, thousands of vulnerable families will continue to live in appalling conditions, fearing what tomorrow may bring.

“If you feel you could support our efforts once more then it could make such a difference to those living on the very edge of existence. Any donation – however small – will be welcome,” she concluded Fiona Corcoran.

Donations can be made to greaterchernobylcause.ie.