Barcelona sends off 'Caravan of Kindness' to Ukraine on fourth anniversary of war

The 'Caravan of Kindness,' a humanitarian aid mission to Ukraine organized by Sister Lucía Caram, set off from Barcelona on Friday bound for Odesa, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion and the outbreak of the war.

The convoy is made up of 21 vehicles secured by Caram and the Santa Clara Convent Foundation through a fundraising appeal: ten ambulances, three pick-up trucks, one four-wheel-drive vehicle and seven cars. 

The vehicles arrived on Thursday from Manresa, north of Barcelona, where the foundation is based, and stopped in the Catalan capital before setting off on the 3,000-kilometre journey to the Ukrainian city, expected to take around three days.

The expedition has received financial support from numerous organisations and institutions, including Barcelona City Council. 

The departure took place in front of the Sagrada Família, after the basilica hosted a mass to bless the expedition. 

Mass at the Sagrada Família and blessing in the street

As the vehicles awaited departure, a mass was held at the Sagrada Família, presided over by the Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona, Joan Josep Omella. 

After the service, speeches were held outside the basilica. There, Mayor Jaume Collboni said that Barcelona once again demands peace for Ukraine and for the world.

He announced that he will travel to Kyiv in the coming months to strengthen ties and pledged to continue sending aid to the country, reinforcing what he described as a bridge of solidarity with Ukraine.

Ukraine's consul in Barcelona, Oleg Grabovetskyy, expressed his gratitude to the city, to Sister Lucía Caram and to the entire convoy. 

He described the 'Caravan of Kindness' (Caravana de la Bondat) as a caravan of warmth, because it is bringing "the warmth of Barcelona, but also the warmth of the electric generators and of the people's hearts" to Ukraine.

After the speeches, Archbishop Omella blessed each of the vehicles and members of the expedition, who set off for Ukraine minutes later.