The Logistics of Care: East SOS Expands Support for Evacuees with a New Ambulance

Providing social support to evacuees is an essential part of the East SOS mission. Recently, our fleet was strengthened with a new Volkswagen Crafter Type A ambulance. With financial support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF), we purchased the vehicle from the Ukrainian manufacturer Ksenko Auto Production LLC, which specializes in emergency and special-purpose vehicles.

The ambulance is currently used to transport evacuees in stable condition. It is operated by a trained crew and fully equipped with everything needed, including a stretcher, an evacuation chair, a pulse oximeter, and a defibrillator. This allows us to transport people with chronic illnesses and reduced mobility safely and in greater comfort.

The ambulance is also used to take people to hospitals and social care institutions, where our team helps them undergo medical examinations and procedures, restore lost documents, and obtain the certificates they need. In addition, it transports evacuees from the transit centers in Voloske and Pavlohrad (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) and Lozova (Kharkiv Oblast) to the Social Adaptation Center for People with Disabilities by NGO “Ocean of Kindness” in Dnipro. There, they receive temporary accommodation and care while our logistics managers look for permanent accommodation.

“Part of the Foundation’s vehicle fleet needs replacing, so this new ambulance is a significant addition. It allows us to respond more quickly to the needs of people with reduced mobility during evacuations and gives us greater confidence that our equipment will perform reliably when it matters most,” said Davyd Pahava, the East SOS Evacuation Specialist.

The new ambulance recently transported 79-year-old Valentyna, who was evacuated from Vasylkivka, from a transit center to the Ocean of Kindness Center. Due to her health condition, she has been unable to move on her own for almost a year. Our team ensured her safe and comfortable transfer to Dnipro.

When needed, the ambulance will also be deployed on evacuation missions to rescue people from frontline hromadas.

This vehicle was procured as part of the project “Integrated Comprehensive Support and Protection for Vulnerable Evacuees” implemented with financial support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF).

As a reminder, East SOS evacuated 534 people from frontline areas in May with support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF).