Local people with long associations to the Ukraine and surrounding areas have gathered together to support the ongoing crisis as the war continues.

The Chernobyl Children’s Appeal has hosted children from the Ukraine and Belarus which are both in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone for many years since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster with one group in Fermanagh and Omagh group hosting children in the district.

Indeed, Chernobyl is now one of the areas where the Russian army have taken control in Ukraine

One of those who commented on the ongoing situation was Aine McQuaid from Dromore who has hosted children from Ukraine over the years, she said: “It is heart-breaking to see what’s going on at the moment.

“We are all thinking of them and keeping them in our prayers. The children we hosted are from small villages. The villages do not have good access to internet so it is difficult to keep in contact although when we can, we do.”

Trevor Kirkpatrick, who operates Northern Ireland’s only charity shop for charity in Irvinestown explained some of the donations and practical support the charity has given to people.

“Due to Covid we haven’t brought any of the children over, some of the money that we would have used [for the project] has been put towards filling the container.

“Over £5,000 of it is from money that would have been raised through the charity shop in Irvinestown.”

The group has already dispatched its donation to Poland to the refugee camp with women and children on the Polish Border.

Explaining some of the items, Trevor said: “We bought 4,000 facemasks, 5,000 glove boxes, we bought them direct as it easier to pack different things into the boxes.”

Explaining practical support they have given, Trevor said: “Our charity brings children from Belarus and Ukraine, we have a co-coordinator in Kyiv, so we have sent her money to get stuff for the children that are in the metro. She looks after us on that side and looks after school projects.

“We [Chernobyl Children NI Ltd] have sent her across $10,000. At the minute they are trying to get a soup kitchen going so they can make a hot meal and set up a kitchen during the day. We have a lot of stuff to get out there, but she can’t move because of the curfews and fear of the transport being hit.”

The charity is hopeful that children may be able to return to the Fermanagh and Omagh area next year. Trevor added: “Next year if things do settle down we will bring them from Ukraine because after coming from that situation, they do need respite, I think there will be a lot of children affected by this, it will be very traumatic for the children.

“If we can get them out for two or three weeks and show them something different and what we can offer. All we can hope is things will settle down and we can hope for next year.”