MOVING aid and donations to the people of Ukraine has been made easier thanks to a customs easement, the UK Government has said.
The announcement was made after several charities expressed concern that post Brexit red tape was hampering efforts to get aid to the people of Ukraine.
The Pembrokeshire Herald, who are organising an aid delivery from west Wales had contacted the Secretary of State of Wales, Simon Hart MP, and Samuel Kurtz, the local Senedd Member for help with the paperwork problem on Wednesday.
Herald sales manager Gavin Young welcomed the announcement, saying: “We were very worried about the complicated paperwork needed to get urgently need humanitarian aid to the Polish-Ukraine border. This announcement now means goods kindly donated by the people of Pembrokeshire can get to where it is needed a lot faster.”
A spokesperson from HMRC told The Herald: “The simplification of customs processes is obviously welcome news, and will apply to goods intended to support those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine which are exported from GB.
“Provided the goods are not exported to, or through, Russia or Belarus, then these simplified processes apply to qualifying goods regardless of the destination to allow maximum flexibility to get aid to where the need is greatest.
“Businesses charities and community organisations sending aid from GB ports will be able to make a customs declaration by speaking to customs officers or simply by the act of driving through a port.
“They will no longer need to complete and submit electronic customs declarations to HMRC before exporting these goods, and smaller movements will not need to use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service to pass through ports where it is in operation.”
A shipment of medical supplies including ventilators, bandages and face masks is being despatched from Wales today to support the people of Ukraine.
The medical supplies left Wales this morning and will be flown to Poland, then onto Ukraine.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Wales stands in solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
“Wales’ links with Ukraine are long and deep, and we are ready to offer any practical support and humanitarian assistance that we can.
“The best way for the people of Wales to support Ukraine is to give money to the Disaster Emergency Committee, so supplies can be bought as near to their need as possible.
“However, we have been working with partners to identify medical supplies that are urgently needed. We have further medical supplies ready to go to Ukraine. If we can help the people of Ukraine in any way, we will.”
Welsh Government has already made £4m available for the Disaster Emergency Committee to provide support in Ukraine where it is needed most.
