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The Do It Together Foundation of the Saving Lives humanitarian initiative has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Agritrade Ukraine, the Coordination Centre of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (known as BMEL). This is the first strategic partnership between Germany and Ukraine under the project.

The memorandum was signed to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine and help Ukrainians affected by the Russian aggression.

German humanitarian aid had come to Ukraine before, but it was contextual. With the memorandum, Germany will step up its assistance that will become consistent. Ukraine expects to receive 200 tonnes of aid a month under the initiative, thus expanding the geographical area and number of beneficiaries. About 30,000 children, women, and the elderly will be able to live better and receive what they need most.

“We have been supporting Ukraine with food products for almost three months. It is crucial for us that people in need receive food and water in good time. That is why we have signed this memorandum with the Saving Lives project, as it showed its professionalism and a well-established logistics from donors to recipients. More than 50 German companies provide food products for Ukraine. We do hope that the war will end, but for now we will do everything we can to help people,” said André Pilling, Chairman of the Board of the BMEL Coordination Centre.

Poland-based hubs of Agritrade Ukraine will collect cargoes, and the Saving Lives initiative will deliver them to Ukraine, particularly to the areas affected by the aggression, including Donetsk Oblast. Residents and IDPs will have access to food products and essentials. It is fitting that Memorandum was signed in a Polish hub.

“Since the beginning of the war, about 55,000 Ukrainians have received assistance from the Saving Lives humanitarian project. Unfortunately, Russian aggression is not subsiding, so now more people need help than it was three months ago. Working together with partners such as Agritrade Ukraine, we can support the most vulnerable groups. I thank Agritrade Ukraine and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Germany for such timely and vital assistance,” said Oleksandr Vyshniakov, the Head of the Saving Lives project.

Assistance from Germany will come to Ukraine regularly and make the humanitarian efforts of Saving Lives stronger. The project’s scope will make up to 100,000 a month.

Launched by Metinvest Group and DTEK in coordination with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation in early days of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, Saving Lives provides ongoing assistance and aid (food and essentials) for Ukrainians. For this purpose, it has arranged two hubs in Poland that collect, sort and prepare bulk cargoes for shipment. In coordination with the national authorities, they are delivered to cities and areas where this support is most needed. Monetary donations are also made to the Do It Together Foundation. Recently, the project has expanded its assistance, starting to support medical institutions. Hospitals in Zaporizhia and Kamianske have received medicines and consumables.