Lawyers assist Ukraine

INTERNATIONAL

Lawyers assist Ukraine

During the Westminster & Holborn dinner in the National Liberal Club at the end of the UIA conference on 1 April, guests heard from Kinga Konopka and Joanna Wsolek of the Krakow Bar with which WHLS is twinned. The Krakow lawyers told guests about the initiatives of their members in supporting lawyers in Ukraine. Their members have been assisting refugees in finding accommodation, giving legal advice, and responding to the requests for help from small bar associations which are cut off from the central depots where the big shipments of humanitarian aid arrive. They have already organised three vehicles filled with medicine, clothes, food and blankets to take to towns in Ukraine. Guests in the dinner donated over £700 and €130 in cash, and many took away the information to make direct bank transfers. It was a clear way that lawyers could help lawyers.

Ambulance on its way

The money raised has been used to buy and supply an ambulance with medical supplies and has gone with volunteer doctors to the Ukrainian city of Mykoleiv, between Odessa and Cherson. An announcement was made paying tribute to the support of WHLS members during the international webinar with the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) on 20 April. Another way of helping is in providing legal advice on immigration rules. During the 20 April international webinar organised by the FBE with panellists from Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria and the UK participants heard from President of the UNBA Mrs Lidiia Izovitova. These experts answered questions from the UNBA, and the webinar was very successful and the recording can be found on the FBE website for anyone interested in assisting refugees to find safe havens across borders.