The £70,000 big-hearted Sunday Mirror readers have raised for our Ukrainian orphan appeal has helped another 118 children reach safety.
Ukrainian officials supported by British charity Hope and Homes for Children spirited the youngsters aged two months to six years old out of two baby homes in war torn Dnipro.
They have now found sanctuary in the Netherlands after a gruelling 60 hour journey through Poland by train and bus.
Charity worker Halyna Postoliuk said: “It’s a relief that these children are now out of harm’s way. We were very worried about how safe the trip would be.
“And we’ll ensure they return home to Ukraine when the time is right and its safe.”
They are now being looked after by local Dutch authorities and their Ukrainian care givers who travelled with them.
It is the second evacuation from Dnipro our appeal money has helped to finance. Last month 52 Ukrainian orphans settled into a new life in Romania.
KT Tunstall is backing our appeal along with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the singer-songwriter with be on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday Morning trying to raise even more money.
She said: “I know a little bit about the uncertainty of being a baby without a family.
“After being given up at birth, I spent the first 18 days of my life with a foster family until a caring couple who became my parents took me home. Not every child is as lucky.”
- To donate to our orphan appeal go to www.hopeandhomes.org or text HOPE 5, HOPE 10, HOPE 15 or HOPE 20 to 70300 to donate £5, £10, £15 or £20 to Hope and Homes for Children.
