SDLP West Belfast representative Paul Doherty is travelling to Ukraine this week with aid raised through his Foodstock community response team.

Mr Doherty will fly to Romania on Thursday to meet two containers full of items donated by people from across the North.

He will then cross the border into Ukraine at Siret with representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) before helping to distribute the aid to people in the border region.

Mr Doherty said:

“Following the tremendous response to Foodstock’s Ukrainian aid appeal and the overwhelming support we received from both the local community in west Belfast and right across the North I felt compelled to ensure that we finished the job and get our two 40ft containers into Ukraine and help them reach their final destination.

“At Foodstock we normally focus our efforts on helping the local community, but like so many others I was moved by the devastating scenes unfolding in Ukraine following the imperialist Russian invasion. I put out a call for people to donate clothes, hygiene products and non-perishable items and I could not believe the reaction. Within days the boxes were piled high and cars were arriving from as far away as Derry and Newry, people wanted to help in any way they could.

“The border area at Siret is seeing a huge build up of Ukrainian refugees and they are badly in need of help. Over the next few days I will be working with NGOs to get the products raised by people in the North to areas where they can make a difference. Since starting Foodstock I’ve never failed to be amazed by the generosity of people in west Belfast and across the North. I’ll do all I can to make sure their tremendous humanitarian effort makes a difference.”