Article in Metro 26/11/2012

Translation (roughly)

Contribution. Malmö organization arrange ambulances to save lives in Syria

Swedish ambulances that will save lives in Syria. Behind the aid effort is the Malmö-based organization Nordisk Hjälp, which on Friday began the approximately 400-mile long journey to the Turkish-Syrian border.

“One hopes that this can be the difference between life and death. There are doctors ready and waiting down there”, says Linnéa Gudmundson, informant for Nordisk Hjälp.

A convoy consisting of 13 Swedish ambulances packed with medical equipment and wheelchairs is now on its way to the Turkish-Syrian border. There is a Turkish association that actively works with Syrian refugees ready to take over.

“Our collaborative partners down there have identified where the ambulances are most needed and where there are children who need help. They will take over from our volunteers and put the ambulances and all equipment into [good] use”, says Linnéa Gudmundson.

If all goes according to plan, the ambulances should reach their destination on Thursday. When Nordisk Hjälp carried out a similar project last year, the ambulances that were to be sent to Lebanon were instead stranded in Turkey.

“Of course, there is always a risk that something will happen when these projects are to be implemented. But in the end it was because of the unrest in Syria that the ambulances did not arrive. Now they are going to Turkey to help the Syrian refugees”, says project manager Cecilia Helander.

Marcus Carlsson

Subtitle: Cecilia Helander, Linnéa Gudmundson and Ibrahim Elboughrabi pack one of the 13 ambulances that started the five-day journey to the Turkish-Syrian border on Friday. Photo: Kinga Lezanska Sjölin

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