David Beckham.Photo: Gotham/GC Images
David Beckhamtook a step back from his Instagram account to highlight the relief efforts being made in Ukraine over the weekend.
Beckham, 46, announced on Sunday he’d be “handing over my social channels to Iryna, the Head of the Regional Perinatal Centre in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where she is helping mothers give birth.”
Explained the retired soccer player, “Head over to my story highlights to learn more about the amazing work Iryna and health workers like her are doing to save lives in Ukraine. Please give what you can to support @UNICEF and people like Iryna using the donation link in my bio.”
Since the start of Russia’sattack on Ukrainein late February, Iryna explains in later Instagram Story posts, her responsibilities have expanded: “I unload cargo, I work on logistics and I offer emotional support.”
Recounting the early days of the invasion, the doctor says that patients were evacuated to the basement, though babies in intensive care had to remain in place — despite the risk — due to immovable life-saving equipment.
“The first days were the most difficult,” she says. “We had to learn how to work with bombings and strikes.”
Dr. Iryna.Gotham/GC Images
Now, her “workday” has become “24/7.”
Explains the doctor, “We are probably risking our lives, but we don’t think about it at all. We love our work.”
Details of the fighting in Ukraine change daily, but hundreds of civilians havealready been reported dead or wounded, includingchildren. Millions of Ukrainians have also fled, the United Nations says.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
source: people.com
