EDINBURGH has sent thousands of sandbags to its twin city in Ukraine after an appeal for help in protecting statues and monuments while war rages.
More than 3000 sandbags are being delivered to Kyiv after a request to the office of Edinburgh’s Lord Provost.
They will be used by officials in Kyiv to erect sand barricades in a bid to prevent the destruction of important historical monuments, memorials and statues and preserve them for future generations.
It took less than two weeks to organise the delivery, which was flown from Edinburgh to Krakow in Poland as part of a "personal luggage allowance" of an easyJet captain, before being taken to Kyiv by train.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Frank Ross said he was delighted the call for help was able to be answered so quickly.
“The sandbags will soon be put to good use protecting their treasured monuments and, with that, their history,” he said.
READ MORE: Ukraine: Nicola Sturgeon slams tiny number of visas given to refugees
“The coordination and delivery involved in turning this around has required a real ‘can do’ attitude and a true team effort between all of the organisations involved. They each deserve great credit for their ingenuity and input.
“This is typical of the response since the invasion began a month ago, which has seen a characteristically caring and generous response from the people and organisations from across Edinburgh, with many coming forward with offers of help and donations.”
He added: “As people flee the war and choose to seek refuge here, our teams will continue to work around the clock to welcome families with open arms and make sure they receive the safety and support they need.”
The sandbags were donated to Edinburgh by Falkirk Council, and the donation was coordinated with the help of employee volunteers at NatWest.
READ MORE: Dunbar bear sculpture lit up in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine
Dorothy Reid, roads and grounds manager for Falkirk Council, said: “It was a very straight forward request that we knew could help the aid operation in Ukraine.
“There’s already a massive humanitarian effort going on however, this seemed something that was a bit different, and we were really happy to offer a hand with.
“We hope that some of the city’s historic landmarks can be protected with the sandbags and our small donation helps Kyiv and its citizens maintain its cultural identity.”
Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, were jointly chosen to receive the Freedom of Edinburgh, as part of the city’s response to the crisis.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel