Humanitarian aid from the City of Vienna - completed projects

In-kind contributions by the City of Vienna help strengthen the public healthcare and social sectors, especially in Eastern Europe.

Clean greetings to North Macedonia

A waste collection vehicle taken out of service in Vienna will contribute to enhancing supply security in the Republic of North Macedonia. In the context of humanitarian aid provided by the City of Vienna, a special truck from the City of Vienna's fleet was handed over in October 2022 to the Municipality of Resen, located at the shores of Prespa Lake, in the border triangle of North Macedonia, Albania and Greece.

With about two million inhabitants, North Macedonia counts among Europe's developing countries. Poverty, outmigration, brain drain and chronic underfunding of public institutions are typical features of the country's rural areas. Consequently, the Municipality of Resen lacks the funds required to purchase new waste collection vehicles. This, in turn, has a negative impact on residents' quality of life. The vehicle now made available can collect around 12 tons of waste and ensure proper disposal. For many years to come, it will thus continue to make an important contribution to municipal waste disposal for the benefit of the 9000 inhabitants of Resen.

Relief supplies and vehicles for Ukraine

The City of Vienna has contributed actively towards providing humanitarian assistance and aid to Ukraine. Starting as early as 24 February 2022, trucks loaded with relief supplies set off from Vienna to Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Poland. Furthermore, a total of 16 firefighting and ambulance vehicles were sent to Ukraine at the end of May 2022.

• Vienna sends relief supplies to Ukraine
• 16 emergency vehicles for Ukraine

Emergency aid for Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

By providing humanitarian aid and relief supplies, the City of Vienna supports the Republic of Moldova in coping with the enormous challenges posed by the Moldovan health system's precarious infrastructure and the additional burden attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the end of September 2021, relief supplies, such as hospital clothing for patients and staff as well as hospital beds, mattresses and medical-technical devices and equipment were loaded on trucks. In total, two trucks carrying eleven tons of supplies were sent to Chisinau to contribute to improving nursing care. Of these, 3.5 tons alone were made up of 9,000 items of bedding and clothing packed in 240 large cardboard boxes. The relief supplies sent by the City of Vienna will from now on be used at the Moldovan capital's Institute of Emergency Medicine, where the majority of the country's COVID-19 patients are being treated.

Footballs as therapeutic aids, South Africa

In the context of humanitarian aid and relief provided by the City of Vienna, 242 footballs were delivered to South Africa and handed over to two social institutions by the Austrian Ambassador to South Africa, Johann Brieger.

Half of the balls were made available to the Ntuthuko Stimulation Centre, a non-profit institution in the township of Shoshanguve located in the north of Pretoria. This facility provides care and education to children with mental or physical disabilities. The other half was handed over to the Johannesburg-based Hofmeyer kindergarten for children from difficult backgrounds, many of whom have drug-addicted parents. The footballs will be used as play and therapy equipment.

Humanitian assistance to Bihac

Thousands of migrants are currently in the Bosnian city of Bihac, where local authorities can only offer them care in a most rudimentary manner. Seeking to support the Bosnian authorities in meeting these people's needs in the current crisis situation, Municipal Department 27 - European Affairs (MA 27) organised the delivery of humanitarian aid supplies consisting of urgently needed goods. A total of 3.3 tons of supplies, involving goods sorted out by the Vienna Health Care Group (Wiener Gesundheitsverbund) and made available by the City of Vienna's re-use and upcycling initiative (48er-Tandler), such as duvet and pillow covers, bedlinen, towels, mattress covers, bedspreads, clothes, blankets, children's beds and nappies, arrived in Bosnia on 17 March 2021.