More than 100 people seeking refuge from the conflict in Ukraine have been supported to reach safety as part of a joint humanitarian initiative set up by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, the Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU) and global ship manager V.Group.
The initiative is focused on helping seafarers and their families, many of whom live around port regions like Odesa and Mariupol. The founding partners provide the following update as the efforts reach their third week:
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Many seafarers families are at the epicentre of the military actions taking place in key maritime cities in Ukraine. We do our best to ensure safety for seafarers’ families. Prior to the start of this project, we helped more than 60 people to cross the border using MTWTU resources
…Oleg Grygoriuk, Chairman of MTWTU, said.
We gained valuable experience and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue this project, which definitely is the number one priority for seafarers’ families now
…he added.
In less than three weeks we have helped more than 100 people reach safe and secure accommodation and provided support as they plan their onward journeys. Today we heard that three families managed to make the move from Kherson to Odesa and will be on their way to safety on the next bus out this week
…Katie Higginbottom, Head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, said.
We can barely imagine the levels of courage and endurance required to take these perilous journeys. We continue to call for industry partners to join our initiative so that we can keep the project running for as long as it is needed and help as many families as possible
…she also noted.
We remain concerned about the safety and wellbeing of all seafarers and their families, and this project is one way we can provide practical support. The initiative has been established to help all Ukrainian seafarer families, regardless of their affiliation or employer
…Allan Falkenberg, Chief Operating Officer of V.Group, said.
We’ve had a high number of people register interest in accessing support and we expect the level of demand to continue. The initiative is clearly making a significant difference to families with over one hundred people so far having reached safe accommodation
…he mentioned, adding also that “This is a fast-moving situation and it is imperative that we continue to work together with our colleagues in the ITF and MTWTU to help as many people as possible. We now encourage more organisations in the industry to partner with us.”
In addition, many seafarers and their families expressed their gratitude for the assistance through this initiative.
Following the ongoing conflict, the heads of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have called for urgent action to protect seafarers and vessels stranded in Ukrainian ports and nearby waters following the Russian aggression against the country.
Recently, in a webinar among industry experts, the concerns over seafarer’s well-being have been discussed. An ICS & ITF briefing on the Ukraine crisis gave a clear picture of the whole situation affecting the seafarers and their families across the maritime industry.
In March, the ILO’s Governing Body passed a resolution calling on the Russian Federation to ‘immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression’ against Ukraine.
