This Tuesday, several northern firefighters, volunteers from the NGO French Disaster Relief Group (GSCF), took the road to Ukraine to deliver equipment to their Ukrainian firefighter counterparts. This is the third mission that this small humanitarian association has managed to set up since the start of the war despite the difficulties encountered in raising funds.
20 minutes embarked on the second convoy that the GSCF had organized to deliver some 60 tons of equipment to firefighters in Lviv, Ukraine, and to the refugee transit center in Przemysl, Poland. A mission to 60,000 euros which had largely dented the finances of this northern NGO. Because, despite the exceptional work provided by its volunteers, all firefighters, the GSCF struggles to exist in the eyes of donors in the face of big machines such as the Red Cross or the Fondation de France. “The donations are not up to what we hoped unfortunately. After 23 years of existence, it is important for the public to have confidence in the professionals involved in the rescue and crisis management”, insists Thierry Velu, the president of the GSCF.
Expensive equipment which explains the significant need for financing
But this is not what will prevent the humanitarian firefighters from acting. Moreover, a third GSCF convoy left on Tuesday morning, heading for the Ukrainian-Polish border. If it is smaller than the previous one, what it carries is no less expected by the firefighters of Lviv. “New generators, chainsaws, medical equipment and other supplies for the refugees and the injured. There is also another drone equipped with a high-resolution camera”, lists the president of the NGO. Expensive equipment which explains the important need for financing of the association, which has opened a kitty dedicated to its operations in Ukraine.
Thanks to its contacts on the spot and its responsiveness, the GSCF can best meet the expectations of Ukrainian relief, which change according to the evolution of the conflict. “What we want is to sustain our actions there and ensure that the equipment sent to Ukraine really meets the needs,” adds Thierry Velu.