Truck carrying 12 tons of aid for the Ukrainian people departed from Porto

There are already visible results from the “We are all Ukraine” campaign: the first truck with goods collected as part of this initiative left for Polland. On board are medicines, nonperishable food items, clothes – and a shot of hope for the Ukrainian people, whose lives has been transformed by the Russian invasion on the 24th of February.

On Tuesday morning, the final preparations were being made so the truck could continue its journey. The barracks of the Porto Batalhão dos Sapadores Bombeiros (BSB) has been used to store the goods collected as a result of the solidarity of the people of Porto: in the pavilion the donations were packed in boxes, then weighed and labelled in Portuguese, English and Ukrainian. From there, in a few steps the boxes were transported to the truck, which was already practically full.

“This is the first IRR truck with donated goods, part of the “We are all Ukraine” campaign. It is, indeed, an example of the solidarity we are witnessing. Around 12 tons of goods that will leave today to the Polish-Ukrainian border, and that we believe will be very useful and help those who need it the most”, underlines Councilwoman Catarina Araújo, who coordinates this campaign for the Municipality of Porto that also involves, the municipalities of Vila Nova de Gaia and Matosinhos.

According to the list of goods prepared by the Ukrainian consulate, “ from medicines to nonperishable food items, but also clothes and a set of other goods that will be very useful”, explains Catarina Araújo, welcoming the strong participation in the “We are all Ukraine” campaign: “The collection of goods began on Friday and we have already collected 12 tons of goods, which is proof of solidarity and of how this campaign has reached everyone and the hearts of many”.

“An act of kindness”

Roberto Duarte is responsible for driving this truck to the Polish-Ukrainian border. The truck driver admits to being somewhat nervous but points out that the nobility of the goal made him overcome his doubts. "The most important thing is to take this help to those who need it. If everyone said they weren't going, how would those people survive? It's an act of kindness", he stresses.

“This job, in itself, entails a big responsibility. When it comes to a solidarity mission, the responsibility is even greater”, adds Roberto Duarte, admitting that it will be the “most important” transportation service he has ever done: “Under these conditions, yes. Helping others, in a war that is happening right now, it is the first time and a very important thing in anyone’s life.”

Alone, Roberto Duarte will have a few thousand kilometers ahead of him before reaching his destination. “I believe that this Friday, by the end of the day, I can be there. It will be a challenge, it’s a long way there, but I think everything will be fine. I don’t know what I’m going to find there. However, I believe that everything will be alright”, repeats the driver that will take to the Ukrainians the solidarity of the people of Porto.

Logistics operation

BSB has served as a logistics platform, in a methodical work to speed up the shipment of the collected goods.“We were careful to separate the goods according to the list sent to us by the Ukrainian consulate in Porto. For example, we separated and divided the food items into canned goods, rice and noodles, biscuits, etc.", explains BSB commander, Carlos Marques, noting that the packages are labelled in three languages – Portuguese, English and Ukrainian – “so that, on arrival, the goods are easily identified.”

“We counted on the staff of the BSB and also the Proteção Civil Municipal for this logistical operation, which was complicated as it involved a large number of goods. From yesterday (Monday) afternoon, from the arrival of the truck, around 5pm, we had the mission of loading the goods that had previously been labeled and packed”, says Carlos Marques, indicating that the arrival at the logistics hub in Polland, near the border with Ukraine, is planned for “Friday at the end of the day”. “Then, the unloading will be done on Saturday during the day”, he concludes.

The goods collected by the town halls will also pass through the BSB to later be transported to Ukraine. The “We are all Ukraine” campaign brings together the efforts of the municipalities of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and Matosinhos, in the humanitarian response to the needs of the refugees caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The initiative seeks to organize demonstrations of support, particularly in the offer of goods, services, jobs, and shelter, and can be reached at www.somostodosucrania.pt or via the number +351 222 090 420.