Cornwall's ShelterBox assessing whether to send team to eastern Europe amid Ukraine crisis
The disaster relief charity fears millions of people could be displaced from their homes
Last updated 26th Feb 2022
A disaster relief charity based in Cornwall is assessing whether to send a team to eastern Europe amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Russian forces are approaching the capital city of Kyiv as weapons are handed out to civilians to help defend the city.
There have been reports of clashes on the outskirts across the day on Friday.
Ukraine's deputy defence minister says Russia has lost about 2,800 servicemen in attacks so far as well as tanks.
Thousands of people are believed to have fled the country and hundreds more have been taking shelter in places like underground train stations.
ShelterBox, based in Truro, says it is "looking carefully" at whether to send a team to eastern Europe.
The charity fears that the escalating military action is putting millions of Ukrainian lives at risk of displacement from their homes, with up to 100,000 thought to have fled already.
Chief Executive Sanj Srikanthan said: "We are deeply concerned about the worsening crisis in eastern Europe and the devastating impact it’s likely to have on people forced to flee their homes - which could run into many millions.
"It’s a fast-moving crisis and we’re looking carefully at whether to send a ShelterBox team to eastern Europe.
"With high numbers of people fleeing within Ukraine and to its borders, this would be to find out what the emergency shelter need is on the ground and assess if the type of aid we can provide is suitable.
"It’s a very worrying time and a situation we are monitoring closely".
Speaking to us on Friday afternoon, Sanj added: "At the moment we're trying to determine where best to go first, based on where people are fleeing, and that picture is very confused at the moment because people are in some cases scared to flee because bombs are falling.
"The risk at the moment is while the conflict is ongoing, civilians don't know where the bombs are going to land, where the front line is because it's constantly shifting, and where they can be safe, and so many will be taking early action and possibly fleeing the country".