In an interview, Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife talks about her mobilization, alongside Brigitte Macron, to transfer Ukrainian children suffering from cancer to Western countries.
His country has been invaded for nearly a month. Olena Zelenska, Ukrainian First Lady, impotent, is mobilizing to shelter her citizens and in particular to evacuate children suffering from cancer to Western countries, so that they can continue their care.
She works with her French, Brigitte Macron, and Polish, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, counterparts to set up “convoys of life”. They “are unprecedented. A real rescue operation”, she explains to the “Parisien” “When it became clear that it was impossible to treat children with cancer in the bomb shelters, we immediately looked for a solution. At first, children from different, even very hot regions of the country are transported to Lviv, to the Western Ukrainian Specialized Children’s Medical Center. There, they are examined, their state is stabilized, the medical files are restored and translated into several languages , continues the wife of Volodymyr Zelensky. “Then a hub in Poland allows children to receive diagnosis and medical support. After that, the young patients, with the support of the international oncology community, are dispatched”, between several countries Italy, France, United States, Germany, Canada.
4,000 babies born since the beginning of the conflict
Ukrainian children with cancer and leukemia, accompanied by their parents arrived in France on Monday
© Eric Tschaen/Pool/ABACAPRESS.COM
Care is free and children are not separated from their relatives. “I am happy that our agreement with Mrs Macron has allowed us to bring small patients to France”, she declares as a group landed on Monday in Orly for treatment in France, welcomed by Brigitte Macron, Olivier Veran and Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne. Incidentally, she describes her relationship with Brigitte Macron as “friendly”, indicating that “one of the first words of support came from her”. Last week, the wife of the Head of State had met Ukrainian refugees in Seine-Saint-Denis and indicated that she was also staying in touch with her Ukrainian counterpart, communicating with her “in writing” so as not to “put her in danger. “. “His essential, permanent concern is the children. To know a little how they arrive, how they arrive and what one does. This is his main concern, ”explained Brigitte Macron.
A “Collective Nobel Peace Prize” for Europeans and their help to the Ukrainian people
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Since February 24, the start of the war, 4,000 babies have been born in Ukraine, further specifies Olena Zelenska, “in basements, the metro, bomb shelters… and sometimes in bombed maternity wards – as happened in Mariupol, you have all seen these photos”.
She also thanks all the Europeans, touched by her call, “who now help our people — who house, feed, encourage”. “I imagine it’s hard for you too. Like us, you weren’t ready for this. So many traumatized people in your countries. But the way you reacted… It is worth the collective Nobel Peace Prize!”, she enthuses during this interview carried out remotely. And the First Lady to promise: “Ukrainians are wonderful and very grateful people. Our children will never forget what you do for us”.