Seven retired St John Ambulances will be loaded onto a ship bound for Europe - and ultimately Ukraine – this week to assist with the delivery of critical medical supplies, and medical care.

All the vehicles will be imported into Ukraine by Kiwi K.A.R.E (Kiwi Aid & Refugee Evacuation).

Five of the ambulances will be gifted to front line medical units with the remaining two being kept by Kiwi K.A.R.E for mobile health clinics operating in Ukraine's red zone areas.

Founder of Kiwi K.A.R.E, Tenby Powell, approached St John last year about taking some of their retired fleet into Ukraine and says they are a much-needed resource that will be put to work immediately on arrival.

'We are thrilled the ambulances will soon be on their way to Ukraine. We are fortunate to have some highly qualified Doctors and Nurses as part of the wider Kiwi K.A.R.E team. Being able to run mobile health clinics, in previously occupied areas, where people haven't seen a health professional for years, in some cases, will make a significant contribution to their wellbeing.”

Kiwi K.A.R.E has been supported by a diverse range of New Zealand organisations, all of whom have got right behind the humanitarian cause for Ukraine.

'St John has been absolutely tremendous to deal with from the outset in facilitating this initiative. I then approached KiwiRail, who were very helpful in organising transport on the Interislander Ferry to the Christchurch based units across Cook Strait. In terms of the logistics in getting the ambulances across the 16,465 Nautical Miles (30,492 Kilometres) between Auckland and Germany's Port Bremerhaven, shipping company, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and freight forwarders, Nautica Shipping and Logistics, have bent over backwards to support this endeavour.” says Powell.

The World Health Organization has recorded over 800 attacks on hospitals and medical facilities in Ukraine from February to December 2022. Of those, 150 hospitals, including children's hospitals and specialist cancer centres, have been completely destroyed.

Powell says being able to deploy the retired ambulances into Ukraine will significantly enhance Kiwi K.A.R.E's humanitarian work there.

'We are very grateful to the many hundreds of New Zealanders who have supported Kiwi K.A.R.E and we are thrilled to have a New Zealand flagged entity operating in Ukraine. The ambulances are a tangible symbol of the aroha the people of Aotearoa New Zealand are sending to those living under siege in war torn Ukraine”.

Kiwi K.A.R.E. has a fund-raising page on the Give-a-Little crowdfunding site.