30 April 2025 – Sunflower Scotland provided bags of humanitarian aid – cleaning supplies and essential food – to disabled wheelchair users in the Sumy region.
The Sunflower team was returning from Sumy, on the way back stayed with friends a small town. After the latest attack by ballistic missiles, we decided to get out of Sumy for the night.
There, we learned about the absolutely tragic treatment of disabled people. We spoke with Oleg, a wheelchair user and a local activist.
Help is not coming
They have over 300 wheelchair users who were disabled before the war. They include persons without both legs, those dying from muscular dystrophy, those with cerebral palsy. Clearly, they need Western help. But they aren’t getting any.
But because of the war, whose with non-war-related disabilities are left behind. Of course, Ukraine has to spend everything to protect itself from annihilation by Russia. We – the UK and Europe – should help the disabled. But unfortunately, Oleg explained that in 2025 they aren’t receiving any humanitarian aid. Nothing.
Not enough to survive
A wheelchair user get the state disability pension of 3,323 hryvnia (£60) per month. Utilities – social rent, gas, electrics – cost 3500 hryvnia per month (£65). With a 50% state subsidy, the cost is reduced to 1750 (£32.5). What remains is £27.5, or less than £1 per day.
How can a disabled person survive on 90 pence per day?
Sunflower reacts
Sunflower team – Oleg and Stevie – went to the local market. We asked the local wheelchair users to get back in a couple of hours. We had some money with us, and we bought twenty sets of essential supplies:
- 2.25kg Washing power
- 500 ml Dishwashing liquid
- 500 mg Bathroom cleaning powder
- 400 ml Shampoo
- 500 ml Domestos bleach
- 300 ml Soap
- Toothpaste
- Toothbruch
- 800 g Buckwheat
- 800 g Sugar
- 1 litre Refined Sunflower Oil
Each set cost us 683 hryvnia (£12.50). This doesn’t sound like much, but that’s 45% of an average disabled person’s monthly budget.
We gathered at a local hall, and distributed the aid bags. They were really grateful and happy.
Oleksandr later sent us an email, and here’s what he had to say:
Dear Sirs, Dear Mr. Olezhe! ! We sincerely thank you for the humanitarian aid provided in the form of food and sanitary hygiene kits for people with disabilities. A heartfelt speech to you for your support and bringing victory to Ukraine!
Original in Ukrainian:
Шановні панове, вельмишановний пане Олеже! ! Щиро дякуємо за надану гуманітарну допомогу у вигляді продуктів харчування та наборів санітарної гігієни для людей з обмеженими можливостями. Доземний Вам уклін за підтримку та наближення перемоги в Україні !
Sincere thanks to our supporters
We’d like to thank all our donors and supporters, in Scotland, England and elsewhere in Europe: your help is working, and we are doing our best to reach out and help those who need it.
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