Aid trip to Poland was 'harrowing'

A Moate haulier has described as “harrowing” what the Ukrainian people are going through, having seen it first-hand at a reception/distribution centre on the Polish/Ukrainian border over the weekend.

Hugh Flynn, Managing Director of Flynn RoadFreight, travelled as part of a convoy of Irish trucks more than 2,300km journey over five days, arriving in the early hours of Saturday at Przemysl, around 25 km from the border with Ukraine in -8 temperatures.

“It was a harrowing experience to see what the Ukrainian people are going through,” he told the Westmeath Independent on Tuesday, around 50km from Berlin on his way home.

To see so many women and children, around 1,500 in this centre, with their lives in a wheelie bag, not knowing where they were was very affecting, he added.

While conditions were basic, he was full of praise for the Polish people who were “very receptive” and “doing their bit” for the big numbers of Ukrainians arriving, giving them hot food and a bed for the night before many move on to other destinations.

Hugh, who expects to be back home on Friday, said the company will be bringing out another load of supplies to Poland in a week or so, and he will accept donations once he gets back. An updated list of what is needed will be posted on their social media pages soon.

“The generosity of people is much appreciated but they need to be sure what they are donating is needed on the ground,” he stressed. “We will accept more donations but it needs to be what is required,” he added, saying any businesses who can donate or offer supplies on a cost basis would be most welcome and he can arrange shipment to where it's needed most.