Switzerland wants to take in injured children

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the essentials in brief

• Switzerland now wants to take in injured people from Ukraine.
• The war-torn country is asking for 155 children to be taken in.
• Previously, a veto by the federal government had caused a lack of understanding.

Switzerland now wants to take in injured people from Ukraine. After the initial veto from the Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA), children should get medical help in Switzerland. Apparently, a letter from the Ukrainian embassy got things moving.

He sent a letter to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA). This was said by the Ukrainian ambassador Artem Rybchenko on Wednesday evening in the “SRF Tagesschau”.

According to the report, the Ukrainian side guarantees that no military will be admitted to Switzerland for medical treatment. Now waiting for an answer.

No control whether the military is present

FDFA Deputy State Secretary Johannes Matyassy explained the Federal Council’s about-face as follows: Switzerland had received a request from NATO. There it was said that Ukraine would determine who would be sent abroad as an injured person. So Switzerland could not have checked whether the military was there. This is now different.

According to “Tagesschau”, the Ukrainian side has recently specified their request. Accordingly, 155 children from the war-torn country who are in poor health are asked to be taken in. The ball is now in the hands of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), which must decide.

The FDFA had previously stated that there were obstacles under the law of neutrality in the admission of military patients. And a distinction between civilian and military patients is hardly possible.

As a neutral country, Switzerland would have to ensure that nobody went back to the front after recovering.

Ukraine War: Focus on Medical Aid on the Ground

Switzerland wants to focus on medical aid in Ukraine and supports hospitals in various cities. In return, the FDFA emphasized that it provides treatment devices and trains physiotherapists. In addition, hospitals would be supported with medication on request.

After all, since the invasion of Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin on February 24, the Russian army has destroyed hundreds of hospitals and health facilities there.

More than a dozen EU countries have so far taken part in the evacuation of war casualties from the Ukraine war, including neutral Austria.

Veto caused misunderstanding

In Switzerland, the veto of the federal government had caused criticism in the past few days. Also because the cantons were open to accepting injured people from Ukraine in their hospitals.

Switzerland takes in injured civilians from Ukraine – the right decision?

In addition to FDP President Thierry Burkart, the Center President Gerhard Pfister, Green Party President Balthasar Glättli and former Federal Council members Ruth Dreifuss (SP) and Didier Burkhalter (FDP) also expressed incomprehension.