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Darrell McKay, a retired engineer from Campbell River, currently living in Comox - actively involved in humanitarian efforts, chats with host Peter McCully from Ukraine.
McKay, on his fifth trip to the war-torn region, provides a first-hand account of the dire conditions faced by the people.
From sitting on the front stoop of a safehouse near the front line to witnessing the devastating impact of drone warfare, McKay shares stories of resilience and heroism amid the ongoing conflict.
鈥淚鈥檓 sitting in the front stoop of a safe house, 20 kilometers away from the front line. I can鈥檛 say where it is right now. Just can鈥檛 give away the identity of the house. But it鈥檚 close enough that there鈥檚 mortars coming in and constant air raids.鈥�
McKay discovered stretchers were in short supply, leaving Ukrainian soldiers with a crude alternative: dragging bodies using a rope in a figure-eight pattern. Determined to make a difference, McKay focused on the positive and initiated a fundraising campaign. To date he has purchased 500 stretchers to aid the soldiers on the front lines.
鈥淚鈥檓 amazed. I鈥檓 at the total now of donated money up to $55,000,鈥� said McKay. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of people show faith in me to deliver the goods. The organization that I鈥檓 working with it鈥檚 called Ukrainian Patriot and has let me directly spend the money. So, there鈥檚 no middleman. In the grocery store a few weeks ago. I spent $3,000. $3,000 made up 350 food bags.鈥�
McKay says a food bag will feed a couple for 5 or 6 days.
鈥淲e鈥檝e dispersed those along the way, and these are internally displaced people, some of them don鈥檛 have homes, some are staying in rec centres, some are sleeping on cots and offices, they don鈥檛 have homes anymore,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat was money donated by people that heard your podcast, saw my Facebook.鈥�
McKay tells McCully mortar fire and land mines and are part of the active warfare as well as the use of drones.
鈥淭he drone warfare has changed things beyond belief,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like sitting there shooting guns at each other and mortar firing tanks. These little things can go 100 km/h. There鈥檚 no outrunning them. There鈥檚 no hiding from them.鈥�
McKay is also working with a documentary crew, focused on the efforts of Ukraine Patriot.
You can find out more about McKay鈥檚 efforts see photos of his travels on his page.
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