Open letter from the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) to condemn the war in Ukraine and to ensure that health services can continue to provide care to all patients in need of a transplant
Our community believes in collaboration, integration and democracy. Through acts of aggression by Russian military forces, we see these values being threatened and eroded. WMDA calls on all stakeholders to strongly condemn the violence, bombing, killings, and disruption to essential services resulting from this conflict.
WMDA asks that all parties respect international humanitarian law by ensuring swift and safe delivery of cellular products to all patients who need a transplant and to ensure access to care and medicinal products for patients needing complex transplant treatments, such as those with blood cancer.
We stand for our colleagues, friends, families, donors and patients impacted by this tragedy and we continue to support all of our members during this difficult time.
EUPHA statement: Health is at stake in the Ukraine invasion - 25 February 2022
EUPHA unreservedly condemns the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces. As a public health organisation, it notes that the invasion poses important threats to health in the immediate future and the longer term:
- a) As set out in the 1986 Ottawa Charter, peace is the first prerequisite for health. The invasion has already led to unnecessary deaths among the Ukrainian people and the invading forces, including an attack on a hospital, a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions;
- b) The invasion, with the inevitable displacement of people, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of trade will have severe economic consequences for the people of Ukraine, many of whom have been living precarious lives, with obvious implications for their health;
- c) The invasion is a clear threat to the democratically elected government of Ukraine. The democratic process is a means by which the health needs of a population can be turned into policies, with clear evidence that it contributes positively to health.
Furthermore, EUPHA notes:
- a) the repeated efforts by the Ukrainian government and by western leaders to prevent this act of unprovoked aggression;
- b) the right, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, of the Ukrainian government to take action in self-defence.
EUPHA calls for:
- a) An immediate cessation of hostilities, followed rapidly by a withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine, supervised by international monitors from either the United Nations or Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; Page 2/2
- b) Respect for the Geneva Conventions, and in particular the protection of health workers and facilities;
- c) Full implementation of the Minsk II agreement; and
- d) Respect for the rights of those in the Russian Federation who are calling for peace.
EUPHA further stands in solidarity with its member associations in countries that may also face future threats from external aggression, and especially those in the Baltic states.
Joint Statement on behalf of American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, EBMT and WBMT - 3 March 2022
The American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), European Society for Blood Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), and Worldwide Network for Blood Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) firmly condemns the war started by Russian military forces in Ukraine. In particular, ASTCT, EBMT, and WBMT request that peace negotiations prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable Ukrainian people. Casualties among innocent civilians increase by the minute, including children. Patients with severe conditions, such as those with cancer or undergoing life-saving transplants, are currently affected by lack of medications and medical supplies, limited ability to travel to hospitals, lack of adequate nutrition. Healthcare providers and hospital staff in Kyiv remain in their hospitals to treat the patients in shelters, while bombs continue to hit the city.
ASTCT, EBMT, and WBMT joins the international community and requests that:
a) safe corridors can be established for patients and providers to travel to the hospital;
b) international organizations can be allowed to ship medical supplies;
c) patients whose care cannot be completed in Ukraine at this time may be allowed to travel to foreign countries offering to host them.
ASTCT, EBMT, and WBMT expresses its solidarity to all the Ukrainian healthcare providers, friends and supporters worldwide, and hopes all the states currently engaged in wars will agree on the value of dialogue and peace that should not have borders.
WHO Update
- WHO Office on Ukraine has set up the Incident Management Team and is providing support to the country’s Ministry of Health and leading the international Health Cluster’s work for humanitarian emergencies. See the statement of the Head of WHO Country Office Dr Jarno HABICHT: https://www.facebook.com/WHOEurope/videos/489433626097431
- Radiation and Health Unit at the WHO Headquarters is providing technical support on matters related to radiation safety.
The statement of WHO DG on Ukraine crisis can be read here: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-02-2022-who-director-general-deeply-concerned-over-escalating-health-crisis-in-ukraine
The statement of IAEA DG : https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-director-general-statement-on-the-situation-in-ukraine
How you can help
- Here is the link for donating to UNICEF: https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/conflict-ukraine-pose-immediate-threat-children
- Here is the link for donating to Red Cross Ukraine: https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine
Do you need support to transport cells?
You can reach out to the WMDA International Emergency Task Force, contact them here: https://share.wmda.info/x/PqKbEw
Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and friends in Ukraine, we hope this conflict will end as soon as possible with minimal casualties.