Imagine an enemy unleashed missiles on a hospital like St. Jude’s or the children’s wing at Johns Hopkins. It’s hard to fathom the cruelty and injustice of targeting sick children, their families and hardworking hospital staff.
But that's exactly what happened in Ukraine on Monday, July 8.
Okhmatdyt Hospital is one of Ukraine’s largest facilities for children with cancer, treating about 18,000 kids annually. Tragically, at least 22 people were killed and dozens more were injured in Kyiv when Russian missiles struck the hospital and surrounding buildings.
A waiting area in Okhmatdyt Hospital.
The hospital’s toxicology ward and intensive care and surgery units were largely destroyed. Heart wrenching photos from the scene show rows of children, their heads bald from treatment, hooked up to IVs on the sidewalk after being evacuated from the heavily damaged building.
Lutheran World Relief staff, who have carried your love throughout Ukraine since the war began in early 2022, were working just a few blocks away when the attacks occurred. They sheltered in underground subway tunnels until the moment the missiles stopped falling. Then, they took action.
The comfort of your compassion arrived right away
As soon as the coast was clear, our staff rushed to the site to assist and distribute LWR Mission Quilts and Personal Care Kits to families evacuated from the hospital and nearby buildings.
LWR staff and partners prepare to distribute Quilts & Kits.
Caring people like you are the reason Lutheran World Relief was able to rush aid within minutes of this terrible tragedy. That’s because your gifts to LWR ensure your love travels faster, reaches farther and stays longer to help your neighbors in need.
Your support is urgently needed in this time of crisis. Our team is planning additional aid in the days to come. Please give now to rush help to families in Ukraine — and to ensure we are ready to act when the next emergency strikes.