André Pilling, Head of the German Food Bridge in the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture, stressed: “Ukraine needs our continued support in the face of the onset of winter, the damage done to energy infrastructure in large parts of the country and the situation in the liberated areas, where the food supply can no longer be guaranteed due to destroyed supply chains." HHLA has made its logistics available and is also lending its support to the "Hamburg helps Odessa" fundraising campaign. The Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg has made space available."The city’s open support of the aid measures shows that people can work together quickly and pragmatically in difficult times to help people in need,” Pilling added.
"German Food Bridge" container en route to Ukraine
A German Food Bridge container left HHLA's Container Terminal in Altenwerder Wednesday (December 7, 2022) by train and headed for Ukraine. The container, containing urgently-needed food provided by Unilever, will be delivered to a public organisation tasked with co-ordinating humanitarian aid in Odessa.
Joint aid help in difficult times
HHLA's Odessa link to Ukraine
Philip Sweens, Managing Director of HHLA International GmbH, who is also responsible for HHLA's Container Terminal in Odessa, noted: “HHLA is particularly connected to the Odessa region through its Ukrainian employees and their families. Now, in the cold season, it is even more important to provide humanitarian aid and to support the people affected by the war.” HHLA has operated a terminal in Odessa since 2001, but was forced to interrupt water-side handling because of the Russian war. Three containers of medical supplies had earlier been sent to Odessa and more aid shipments are being sought. More than 450 lorries of food supplies have been delivered to Ukraine as part of the German Food Bridege's collaboration with government agencies, NGOs and 87 companies in the German food industry.
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Sources and further information
German Food Bridge
The German Food Bridge was set up to bring urgently-needed food swiftly to Ukraine and to mitigate the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the war. The organisation, which is part of the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s bilateral project, “Agritrade Ukraine”, co-ordinates Ukraine's official requests as well as donations and initiatives by companies in the German food industry.