It is the duty of the European Union to aid the global populace.
Freiburg's Mayor, Martin Horn, paid a visit to Lviv, Ukraine, last Friday, demonstrating solidarity with the city that has been battling the ongoing conflict for years.
Horn was the guest speaker at an event as part of the initiative "European Youth Capital," held in Lviv at noon. He expressed Freiburg's support for the city's young people who had traveled from all over the country for the event.
Lviv, a university city with over 100,000 students, has been a critical front line in the war, with approximately 60,000 of its residents currently at the front lines.
On Saturday afternoon, Horn visited the "Unbroken" hospital in Lviv, where thousands of war wounded are being treated. The hospital is one of the key healthcare providers in the city, serving both civilians and military personnel affected by the conflict.
The trauma center "Maisternia" in Lviv, a medical facility focused on providing advanced care for trauma patients, has been established with significant support from Freiburg, Germany. The center, which is set to undergo a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, will receive one million euros from Freiburg.
The Maisternia trauma center was created as part of a collaborative humanitarian and medical aid project between Lviv and Freiburg. The initiative aims to improve emergency and trauma care infrastructure in western Ukraine, especially in light of increasing medical needs due to conflicts and the general modernization of healthcare.
The center focuses on providing specialized trauma care, including complex surgeries, rehabilitation, and emergency response. It aims to reduce mortality and disability rates linked to injuries from accidents and conflict-related traumas.
Despite the support, the center operates under challenging conditions, including increased patient loads, occasional resource limitations, and the broader difficulties faced by Ukraine’s healthcare system during times of war.
The situation in Lviv is "ambivalent": people are trying to go about their daily lives, but are constantly confronted with the suffering of the war. Daily funerals for soldiers killed in the war are a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict. When a hearse drives through the city, residents spontaneously kneel down in front of it.
Lviv has been chosen as the European Youth Capital for the year 2025, a testament to the city's resilience and spirit. The new trauma center, with its focus on art therapy to help war wounded recover emotionally as well, is a symbol of hope for the city's future.
Martin Horn, discussing politics and general news during his visit to Lviv, Ukraine, highlighted Freiburg's support not only for the city's solidarity in war-and-conflicts but also its young population. As part of this support, Freiburg has provided significant contributions to the establishment of the Maisternia trauma center, focusing on crime-and-justice-related trauma care, including complex surgeries and rehabilitation. Despite the ongoing challenges, this center represents a beacon of hope for Lviv's future, especially as the city prepares to serve as the European Youth Capital in 2025.
