In rain and wind – Vienna: Schönborn blessed ambulances for Ukraine

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The Greek-Catholic Ukrainians in Austria financed the delivery of twelve ambulances to Ukraine with donations. Now the used vehicles are delivered to different regions of Ukraine. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Vicar General Yuriy Kolasa and European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) said goodbye to them on Wednesday at Ballhausplatz in Vienna.

Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, solemnly blessed the yellow vehicles parked in the square in the pouring rain and cold wind. Then the Ukrainian priests present sang a hymn.

Vehicles hopefully as early as February 18 in Kiev
The ambulances are expected to be transported to Ukraine by truck, Vicar General Kolasa, who is responsible for Eastern Catholic Churches, told APA after the ceremony. “We hope they will be in Kiev on February 18 or 19.” Kolasa herself belongs to the Greek-Catholic Church of Ukraine. Cardinal Schönborn also presides over the faithful of all Eastern Catholic Churches in Austria as Ordinarius.

Austria is one of Ukraine’s largest donors
Minister Edtstadler was grateful for the initiative and willingness to donate. “The humanitarian consequences of Russia’s relentless offensive war are dramatic. I am therefore happy and grateful for the uninterrupted willingness to help in our country,” she said in a broadcast from the Federal Chancellery on Wednesday. “Austria stands by Ukraine,” emphasized Edtstadler. The NEOS member of the National Council Helmut Brandstätter, chairman of the Austro-Ukrainian parliamentary friendship group, also attended the ceremony and was in a positive mood, according to the broadcast: “Despite all the current challenges, I hope that Austria is one of the largest donors to Ukraine.”

For Schönborn, the delivery of the ambulances to Ukraine is above all “a joint sign of solidarity”, as he told the media at Ballhausplatz. He is very grateful that the vehicles were made available by the Green Cross “under such beautiful circumstances”. The cardinal also expressed the hope that “very soon these cars will be used only for the sick and no longer for the war wounded”.

Each ambulance will have a power generator
For his part, Vicar General Kolasa found it “very impressive that this time our new small Ukrainian communities, which are 90 percent war refugees, have also done the fundraising campaign,” he said beforehand by Kathpress. Every ambulance therefore also receives a mobile power generator.

“The wave of solidarity that has sprung up across Austria touches our hearts and strengthens our belief that Austrian society will always be an excellent demonstration of the fundamental values ​​of solidarity, togetherness, community and consideration,” said Kolasa, according to the broadcast of the Federal Chancellery.

By April 2022, Schönborn had already blessed ten ambulances purchased with donations as part of a similar initiative. Packed with medicines, food and other relief supplies, they were taken to Ukraine. At the time, the campaign was carried out in cooperation with the city of Vienna.

Source: Krone

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