UKRAINE UPDATE: "They were excited they were not forgotten"

Learn more about one doctor's mission to bring medical care to citizens under siege. [International Rescue Committee logo.]( {NAME} — Before I introduce you to Dr. Oleg, I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to you, {NAME} — on behalf of our entire team in Ukraine. The generosity of IRC supporters like you is what makes this life-changing work possible. [LEARN MORE »]( Dr. Oleg began his career with an oath: he would do everything he could to care for his patients, to protect their health and serve their needs. In the midst of ongoing violence in Ukraine — where he is head of the IRC mobile health clinic in the Kharkiv region — Dr. Oleg is committed to holding true to that promise. Attacks on hospitals have gutted Ukraine's health care system — there have been nearly 1,000 strikes on hospitals since February of last year. Despite these serious challenges, the IRC continues to provide lifesaving medical treatment to civilians caught on the frontlines of the war, thanks to support from compassionate people like you. [Ukraine]( Dr. Oleg visits with Darina, Community Mobilizer, and patient Lidia "The last time they had seen a doctor was before the war. More than eight months ago. When we came to them, it was so unexpected — [they were excited that they were not forgotten.]( They were emotional, and I, as well as my team, could feel that." — Dr. Oleg recalls a family he helped on a recent shift Dr. Oleg is just one of the brave medical professionals who continues to treat patients affected by the worst of the conflict. As the fighting intensified, Dr. Oleg was forced to evacuate his patients at a retirement home in Mariupol and flee to southeastern Ukraine. There, he began working with aid groups to continue providing medical care. Eventually, Dr. Oleg moved to Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, where he became head of an IRC mobile medical unit. A typical day for Dr. Oleg involves a trip to a remote village with a small team — a driver, nurse, trauma psychologist and community mobilizer. They'll see patients, distribute medicines, provide counselling and monitor people they've previously treated. The IRC's mobile clinic reaches people in need across the Kharkiv region, one of the areas hardest hit by the war. Amidst the destruction of health clinics, missile strikes have also damaged around half of Ukraine's power grid, making it difficult to keep remaining facilities functioning. Dr. Oleg sometimes sees his patients in buildings that do not resemble medical centers anymore: "In some, there's nothing, just walls... no heating and no water," says Dr. Oleg. "We use generators and heaters to improve the conditions." Where no facilities exist, the IRC team makes home visits. [LEARN MORE »]( Across Ukraine, the cost of medicines is soaring while pharmacies struggle to access essentials — a consequence of the collapse of the transportation and supply systems. More than a third of households report at least one person forced to skip medication due to the war. This is why the IRC's work is so critical right now. "People cannot carry out the medical activities that are recommended to them," says Dr. Oleg, let alone hope to obtain needed surgeries. "Many patients need wheelchairs, adult diapers and medicines." What keeps Dr. Oleg going in the face of these challenges and dangers? His patients' intense gratitude. "It is often the first time since the war escalated that people have an opportunity to see a doctor. They apologize that they have neglected themselves. They say they are just happy to be alive." [LEARN MORE »]( The IRC is continuing to scale up its response in Ukraine and other countries to meet the evolving needs of displaced families. In Ukraine, this includes delivering cash support; distributing essential items; providing safe spaces for women and children; legal assistance for people whose homes have been damaged by air strikes; and medical aid. [{NAME}: I hope you can consider making a gift today to ensure we can continue to support families in Ukraine and others whose lives are shattered by conflict and crises around the world. Thank you for any additional donation you can spare at this time of great need.]( Sincerest thanks, Marysia Marysia Zapasnik Country Director, Ukraine International Rescue Committee The International Rescue Committee | [Rescue.org]( 122 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10168-1289 USA To ensure future delivery of IRC e-mails, please add our reply address updates@rescue.org to your Address Book. [Click here]( for U.S. federal and state compliance notices [Manage my preferences]( or [unsubscribe](