Austrian Post to transport humanitarian aid parcels to Ukraine for free
Due to the war in Eastern Europe, Austrian Post is transporting parcels of humanitarian aid to Ukraine free of charge until further notice. The parcels addressed – for example to relatives, relatives, but also to social institutions – must bear the clearly visible inscription “HUMANITARIAN AID UKRAINE” and can be handed in in normal household quantities at all post offices and at postal partners. The following relief supplies are particularly urgently needed in Ukraine:
- Food (canned food, pasta, flour, dry sausages, coffee, sugar)
- Clothing (women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, trousers, sweaters, gloves)
- Household items (sleeping mats, blankets, thermos flasks)
- Hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, wet wipes)
- Medical products and medications (bandages, antibiotics, painkillers)
A package may not weigh more than 30 kilograms. The content must not exceed the value of 100 euros, otherwise customs duties will be charged to the recipients. Each package must be accompanied by a customs form (available online at: post.at/zollformular), as it is a shipment to a third country. Note: Due to the state of war in Ukraine, there may be problems with electronic tracking, and Ukrainian mail in some areas of the country cannot deliver or can only deliver with delay. Further information – also in Ukrainian – can be found at post.at/zusammenhelfen. “AID FOR UKRAINE” – DONATION OF 2 EUROS PER SURCHARGESTAMPAs a further aid measure, Austrian Post will issue a surcharge stamp together with “Neighbour in Need” and “UNICEF”. The stamp has a nominal value of 1 euro, the surcharge of 2 euros goes in full to the two aid organizations. The motif of the stamp shows the Ukrainian flag with the imprint “HELP for UKRAINE”. The stamp has a circulation of 200,000 pieces and will be available from next week in all post offices, under onlineshop.post.at as well as at the collector service of Austrian Post (phone: +43 577 67 – 95095; E-mail: [email protected]). ACCOMMODATION FOR 300 REFUGEES IN LINZ – RELIEF ACTIONS IN EASTERNEUROPEThe currently vacant postal logistics centre in Linz, on whose site the Post City Gardens are to be built in the future, is currently being adapted to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. By adapting the premises, temporary sleeping places and accommodation for around 300 people will be created, and Austrian Post will share the operating costs for electricity, heating and hot water with the city of Linz. The Eastern European post subsidiaries Slovak Parcel Service and Express One Hungary are already supporting the operational management of aid operations in Slovakia and Hungary. The two logistics companies put together relief supplies together with local NGOs and transport them free of charge to the Ukrainian border. Relief goods coming to Hungary via the EURODIS combined freight network are also taken over free of charge by Express One Hungary and transported to the Ukrainian border.BANK99 and Ria Money Transfer, partners in sending and receiving money worldwide, also support people from and around Ukraine. Transfers to Ukraine and Poland, where a large proportion of people who have fled Ukraine are currently located, will initially be carried out free of charge until the end of March. There are no fees for a transaction in these two countries, processing is possible in all post offices and at around 400 postal partners.
