On May 26, 2020, ICMPD handed over personal protective equipment to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine who are the first point of contact for travellers entering Ukraine.
The equipment includes 1,000 protective FFP2 respirators, 1,000 medical gloves, 1,000 glasses, 800 face shields, 700 medical isolation coveralls, 1,000 medical boot covers and 79 non-contact thermometers. The supplied personal protective equipment will contribute to the agency’s capacity to ensure continuous and safe processing of people and goods crossing the border and thus allow to continue delivering its functions in the COVID-19 conditions. The assistance is provided through the EU-funded project "EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine (EU4IBM)".
The Ukrainian border guards are the first to meet the travellers in Ukraine, due to the nature of their duty they cannot avoid physical contact with travellers and are continuously exposed to potential risk of infection. In order to enhance their occupational safety and support the continuity of their operation, the Project handed over the so needed protective means to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
It is the first part of the project’s COVID-19-related support that will also include the supply of personal protective equipment to the State Customs Service, as well as two stationary thermal screening systems to the State Border Guard Service at a later stage.
While the overall international travel restriction is generally in force in Ukraine, special charter flights with Ukrainians returning home and foreign citizens with residence permit are still operating. Some of the automobile border crossing points and cargo terminals at seaports are active as well.