Andrii Sybiha: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society ink a Memorandum of Cooperation

On July 25, during the annual meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic missions, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha and Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, Maksym Dotsenko signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

This document is a logical follow-up to the agreements reached during the Minister's meeting with the leadership of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society on July 3 this year.

The memorandum will enable a number of Ukrainian diplomatic missions to implement important humanitarian projects in close partnership with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. It creates a framework for joint humanitarian response in countries that need it most, particularly on the African continent. This includes assistance in the field of healthcare, access to education for children, the implementation of joint infrastructure projects, and other areas, which will become possible in the near future thanks to this document.

“Today, we are launching this new area of cooperation at a crossroads between diplomacy and the humanitarian track,” Andrii Sybiha emphasized.

In previous years, the URC had proven itself as a key humanitarian partner in overcoming the consequences of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. The URC’s unique experience in providing humanitarian assistance in the conditions of full-scale war can be useful for many countries, particularly on the African continent.

It is crucial to transfer the experience of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society to African countries, where the humanitarian situation often remains challenging and the need for reliable partners trusted by local communities is critical.

“Ukraine must strengthen its role as an active contributor and partner, particularly in the context of implementing such joint initiatives,” the Minister emphasized.

Andrii Sybiha noted the special role and well-deserved authority of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society among other national Red Cross societies in the world. He assured the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' readiness to be an ally of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in further strengthening this role in the international arena.

The Minister expressed his gratitude for the humanitarian projects of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and, in particular, for its assistance in the rehabilitation of Ukrainian children abroad.

After the signing ceremony, a practical discussion was held with the participation of Ukraine's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Maksym Subkh, Ukrainian ambassadors to African countries, and the leadership of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. The participants outlined the first steps for the practical implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum.