Ukraine Petition

PETITION CALLING FOR THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SUPPORT NON-NATO COUNTRIES IN PROVIDING SECURE MEDICAL CARE AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE

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We, the directors of Maternal and Childhealth Advocacy International (MCAI), invite you to join us in calling for protected humanitarian medical care and other assistance to be provided by non-NATO countries with support from the United Nations. MCAI is a medical charity that has been working in war zones around the world for 27 years.  

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On 9th March 2022, WHO verified 18 attacks by Russian forces on health facilities, health workers and ambulances in Ukraine. We understand why NATO is unwilling to put defensive troops on the ground or introduce a no-fly zone, because of a real risk of worsened confrontation and possible nuclear war. However, protected humanitarian assistance and medical aid is urgently needed.

In addition, around 5% of the 421,000 annual pregnancies in Ukraine will need an emergency Caesarean section without which mother and/or baby will likely die or survive with major problems. Approximately 10% of all newborn infants require special medical care which is impossible without electricity, light, warmth, water, food, and expertise. There are also many children with serious medical conditions such as cancer that need high level medical care.

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Our understanding is that there are no legal reasons why the UN General Assembly (as distinct from the UN Security Council, which has a veto system) cannot support non-NATO countries to provide personnel to secure protected humanitarian assistance in Ukraine if such countries are willing to do so and if requested by Ukraine. Such an approach may have less risk of potential nuclear or chemical attacks and, also, in the possible spread of conflict to neighbouring countries.

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In 2019, the World Bank reported that 138 non-NATO countries/territories (minus Russia and Ukraine) have 21.7 million military personnel. These countries combined have the economic strength, expertise in humanitarian missions, and military capacity to provide secure humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

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We invite you to join MCAI in calling on the United Nations to provide non-NATO forces to deliver medical aid and other humanitarian assistance for the citizens of Ukraine, and also in asking the Ukrainian Government to request such assistance.

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Please show your support for this approach by providing your name and your position in your organisation completing the boxes below and then click on ‘Send’ below. We will present this petition to appropriate representatives of the United Nations.

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Professor David Southall OBE, MD, FRCPCH,  Dr Rhona MacDonald MBChB MPH MRCGP DCH DRCOG  Honorary Medical Director, Honorary Executive Director,  MCAI, 1 Columba Court, Laide IV22 2NL, UK