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Portland doctor helps refugees on Ukraine's border: 'It's unfathomable what's going on'


People carry wooden boards to cover the windows of a building damaged by a bombing the previous day in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 21, 2022. As Russia intensified its effort to pound Mariupol into submission, its ground offensive in other parts of Ukraine has become bogged down. Western officials and analysts say the conflict is turning into a grinding war of attrition, with Russia bombarding cities.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
People carry wooden boards to cover the windows of a building damaged by a bombing the previous day in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 21, 2022. As Russia intensified its effort to pound Mariupol into submission, its ground offensive in other parts of Ukraine has become bogged down. Western officials and analysts say the conflict is turning into a grinding war of attrition, with Russia bombarding cities.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A Portland doctor just got back from the border of Poland and Ukraine, after helping the thousands of refugees trying to escape the country.

Dr. Joseph Howton called the trip life-changing, saying it's much worse over there right now than we realize.

“They all said they're worse than the Nazis ever were. The older folks said, you know, they saw Nazi atrocities. These, these guys are worse,” said Dr. Howton. “We have to do everything we can to stop this. This is just not acceptable. It's not it's unfathomable what's going on right now.”

Howton works as an emergency room attending at Providence Portland. After seeing news coverage, Dr. Howton says he knew he couldn’t remain here any longer and that he needed to help.

“There's a lot of darkness in Ukraine, but there's also a lot of light. And just a lot of beautiful humanity that on display there, and just love--the Poles and what they're doing,” Dr. Howton said.

With the support of his family, he flew to offer his skillset to help victims of the war in Ukraine. He connected with some non-profits, including OGDM and World Of Connections.

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“They organized these buses and we pick people up at the water and find apartments for them, you know, in Warsaw and other places,” said Dr. Howton.

Many members of that group gave up their full-time jobs to help transport refugees and keep them housed.

Dr. Howton said the work being done was humbling, because not only are they focused on saving families and people, but helping those remaining in the country.

Before going, he packed a suitcase full of supplies that are much-needed on the front lines, specifically tourniquets.

“I was in touch with a physician in Lavi, in western Ukraine, who was on the ground. And the first thing he said was we desperately the combat tourniquets, CAT tourniquets, hemorrhage-controlled dressings, and things of that nature,” said Howton. “So I went on Amazon and ordered as many as I could carry in a large suitcase just to bring with me.”

Dr. Howton called the trip life-changing, saying it's much worse than we even realize over there.

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