On Saturday, 9th April, 2022, Galway Wild Geese will host a fundraiser at Portumna Market Square in aid of the Irish Emergency Alliance.

Donations are welcome and can be dropped off at the square on Saturday morning at 9.30 am.

HOME BAKING

JAMS AND CONFITURE

ARTS AND CRAFTS

BOOKS

ALBUMS AND CDS

CURIOS

Tables and awning will be set up at the square and volunteers are welcome to donate goods, donate time or help out on the day. Everyone is welcome.

The Irish Emergency Alliance founded by 7 Irish Charities are founders including the charity Self Help Africa are on the border of Slovakia and Ukraine.

Ronan Scully reporting from the border between Ukraine and Slovakia, says his “heart and soul are broken” at what he is seeing.

The wheels of trolley suitcases make a clack clack clack sound as they roll across the uneven pavements. The sound has become a soundtrack to the picturesque mountain village of Vysne Nemeche on Slovakia’s far eastern border.

The daily procession of refugees coming here from Ukraine is relentless. 10,000 are crossing each day – mothers, grandmothers and children mostly – taking flight from the escalating conflict, and seeking sanctuary in this easternmost outpost of the European Union.

The exodus from Ukraine to bordering countries happens in cars, buses, trucks and on foot. It’s a journey that over 3 million Ukrainian’s have taken since war began.

The women and children that I saw were arriving exhausted, emotionally drained, and had that look of bewilderment at the strange and awful turn that life had taken.

Tatiana, aged in her early 20’s drags her suitcase behind her, in her other arm she is carrying a cat that she has brought with her from her home in Ternopil. 

People often wait up to two days at the border, with outside temperatures dropping well below zero at night sometimes as low as minus -10.

Situated high in the Carpathian mountains in eastern Slovakia, Vysne Nemeche is the main crossing along the 60 mile border that separates Slovakia from neighbouring Ukraine.

Local charities and government services, disburse information, provide blankets, bottles of water, soup and bread to the new arrivals. There are also a number of Covid-19 medical centres, dispensing PCR tests.

Families in despair need our help right now.

Over two million people abandoned their homes after Russia invaded Ukraine and fled to the borders of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova and Romania.

The Irish Emergency Alliance have spent days bringing aid into Ukraine to hospitals some 270km within Ukraine in a pace called Ivano Franksivk region and city. 

To learn more about their work please visit www.selfhelpafrica.org and also www.irishemergencyalliance.org