Rental companies send aid to Ukraine
31 October 2022
The Plant and Plant Hire Alliance team and volunteers at the warehouse near to Kosice Airport in Slovakia. (Photo: PPH Alliance)
The Plant and Hire Aid Alliance, which comprises 40 rental industry companies - including insphire, Sunbelt, Ardent, Plantforce, Point of Rental, JCB, GAP and Riwal - that are working to support humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine, has completed the delivery of a vital supply shipment.
A convoy of 15 Alliance vehicles recently made the 1,200-mile journey across Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland and into Slovakia, to deliver 1,500 boxes of donated supplies.
The convoy was met by a group of 40 Ukrainian refugee volunteers at Kosice Airport - the most easterly point of Europe before entering Ukraine - who transported the supplies to Rotary International’s humanitarian centre in the Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod, for distribution to local communities.
It took 22 hours for the convoy to make its journey across Europe. (Photo: PPH Alliance)
In addition to essential items, the supplies included 250 mattresses that will be used to shield citizens in underground bunkers from Russian shelling, and medical supplies - such as stretchers, wheelchairs and crutches, which were prioritised for urgent delivery to central Ukraine.
Jeremy Fish, CEO at Ardent, one of the founding members of the Alliance, said, “This convoy was an opportunity to show the world that our industry can unite behind urgent humanitarian crises and that we’re a force for good. The plight of millions of Ukrainians is desperate and this is our opportunity to help and give something back.”
The Plant and Hire Aid Alliance is now planning its next humanitarian project; “Let’s Give Ukrainian Children A Christmas This Year”.
Around 40 Ukrainian volunteers helped take delivery of the donated items. (Photo: PPH Alliance)
Fish said, “This time last year many Ukrainian children were looking forward to Christmas. This year it’s different, with homes and towns destroyed, families torn apart and killed, including children. Millions have lost livelihoods and loved ones and millions more face an uncertain future.
Aiming to bring joy to the children of Ukraine who have suffered incredible losses during the war, members of the public are being urged to buy and wrap a present(s) that the Alliance will send to Rotary International, for distribution to children across the country.
For more details or to find out how your company could help, visit: www.aid-alliance.com
Ukraine crisis highlighted at Bauma
The scale of the reconstruction challenge facing Ukraine – even before the end of the conflict – was made clear at CECE’s special press conference held at Bauma last Friday.
Rebuilding costs have been estimated at between US$350 and $540 billion, said Scott Hazelton, Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, speaking at the event.
He added that the country’s GDP was likely to shrink by 42% this year, although could see a 12% rebound in 2023.
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