OVER 150 Ukrainian refugees had arrived at Shannon by last Monday, having had to flee their homes and leave their old lives behind.
Aiden Lonergan is National Director of Community Support for the Irish Red Cross, and is also a Garda Sergeant, based in Ennis.
Speaking about the work of the Red Cross with the refugees here he said, “Our response in Clare is primarily focused around Shannon Airport. People are arriving in there and as they arrive Red Cross members are providing them with basic support.
“They land in Shannon, there are three to five Red Cross members there for when the flights arrive and we try to give them basic supports in terms of tea, coffee, fruit, basic food items, personal hygiene items, children can get bubbles, colouring pencils, cuddly toys, that kind of thing.”
How are the people when they arrive here?
“I suppose like many people after a very long and difficult journey, some of them are tired and upset.
“Some of them can become distressed and in that situation we have volunteers trained in psychological first aid to help them through that period of time. Others arrive and they’re able to function fine, without any difficulties.”
Aiden says they don’t talk to them about their experiences in the spell leading up to their departure from home, but in some cases it is very clear that they are suffering.
“Certainly the journey is difficult from central Europe to Ireland, but when we talk to them we don’t go into the details, it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to be asking them those kind of questions.
“But it is clear that some of them are distraught and where they are we provide them with comfort and space to come to terms with their position.
“The people that are arriving are primarily women with children, some of them are older people as well.”
The Red Cross aren’t really involved in providing accommodation for the new arrivals, but provide support until they leave the airport.
“The accommodation is provided by Government and the Red Cross don’t really have a role to play. They’re provided with accommodation according to availability, so it can vary where they go and the Red Cross will stay with them until they’re on their transport to that accommodation.”
The organisation is run on a voluntary basis and people who can provide additional help would be welcome.
“The Red Cross is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who have a strong connection to our fundamental principles and if anyone in Shannon or Clare wanted to become volunteers they should go to www.redcross.ie where they’ll find ways to volunteer or become members of the Irish Red Cross and help us to maintain our supports.”
In the past the Red Cross has dealt with people arriving from other conflict zones such as Syria, and there is no doubt that their commitment and expertise will be very much required in the near future.
“We’ll certainly remain at the airport as long as is needed and an exact date is hard to predict,” said Aiden.
People who would like to contribute are asked to do so via www.redcross.ie rather than leaving items at the airport.
“Currently we have enough provisions at the airport and we ask members of the public not to leave items there.
“We want to acknowledge the support of Shannon airport and their staff. We’d also like to acknowledge Zest who are providing complementary food for those who are arriving.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.