In light of the ongoing crisis in their country, the people of Ukraine are in need of urgent humanitarian aid and protection.
In less than a week, the Ukrainian government has reported over 100 civilian deaths as a result of the persisting conflict with Russian forces.
At the time of writing, it is believed that approximately 160,000 Ukrainian citizens have been displaced within their country, and over 500,000 have been forced to flee into neighboring countries such as Poland and Moldova.
According to the New York Times, the US ambassador to the United Nations has warned that the situation could displace up to 5 million Ukrainians. It has also been estimated that between 1 and 5 million Ukrainians will attempt to flee their country.
As the crisis unfolds and our newsfeeds fill up with heartbreaking scenes of people affected by the conflict, many of us have been left wondering how we can support the Ukrainian people.
Here's how you can support the people of Ukraine
Before we provide a breakdown of what is happening in Ukraine, here is a list of links and resources that are dedicated to helping the Ukrainian people affected by this terrible crisis...
Help Displaced Ukrainians:
"Help us provide medical aid and humanitarian relief to brave Ukrainians defending themselves! Stand with the people of Ukraine!"
United Ukrainian American Relief Committee
"Your donations will be used for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment sent to our contacts and volunteer network in Ukraine."
"The lives of families fleeing violence in Ukraine are at immediate risk. CARE is providing support to partners on the ground and your help is urgently needed. Give now to send lifesaving food, water, and hygiene kits to the most vulnerable in Ukraine."
The International Committee of the Red Cross
"As the security situation allows, we will respond to existing and emerging humanitarian needs as best we can — together with @RedCrossUkraine and our Red Cross partners. We have supported people affected by this conflict for years. This will not change now."
"International Medical Corps' teams inside Ukraine and in the surrounding region are responding to the conflict by expanding access to medical and mental health services for those living in affected communities, and working to help refugees."
"Sunflower of Peace has officially started a fundraiser to prepare first aid medical tactical backpacks for paramedics and doctors on the front lines [...] Each backpack has the ability to save up to 10 lives: Ukrainian soldiers, civilians, volunteers, and children."
Children:
The Voices of the Children Foundation
"Today, during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, we are providing non-stop assistance to affected children and families from all over the country, providing emergency psychological assistance, and assisting in the evacuation process."
"As needs escalate in line with the conflict, UNICEF is rapidly stepping up emergency response efforts from field offices in Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Luhansk and Donetsk while also working with partners to expand relief operations across the country."
"[Helping to] provide children and families with immediate aid, such as food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and cash assistance. Together, we can protect children in crisis."
Support for Black people in Ukraine:
"Dedicated to amplifying Black foreigners in Ukraine voices and helping get them get to safely."
Support vulnerable Black people in Ukraine
"This fund is launched by a Coalition of African and Black organizations worldwide who are joining forces to support members of our community in collaboration with people on the ground in Ukraine."
Resources for African/Caribbean students in Ukraine
A fundraiser dedicated to helping Black students attempting to flee Ukraine.
LGBTQ+:
"As the situation continues to unfold in Ukraine, we at OutRight have started to receive the first requests for support from LGBTIQ organizations which are preparing to receive LGBTIQ people in search of shelter, safety and security."
"As we know all too well, in times of crisis, LGBTIQ people who are already marginalized face higher risks and cannot count automatically on access to humanitarian and/or social assistance."
Medical aid:
"We put doctors and nurses where they are needed most..." Currently setting up emergency response activities across both sides of the Ukraine-Poland border.
Project C.U.R.E. (fundraiser for Ukrainian hospitals)
"Project C.U.R.E. will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine and will be on standby to assist with any requests we receive for medical supplies and equipment."
Individuals with disabilities or impairments:
We have deployed a team of emergency experts to Ukraine and neighboring countries to assess the humanitarian situation.
"Our staff are working around the clock to reach populations affected by the conflict and determine how HI can provide assistance.
"Our priority is to help the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict, including injured people, people with disabilities, elderly people and those with chronic illnesses."
Fight for Right"Our team has a clear position: #IStayInUkraine and we do everything to make it safe for Ukrainians with disabilities to stay here."
European Network on Independent Living - ENIL
"Every person has the right to safety and shelter during war and crisis. Every person has the right to be a part of society and the right to not being left behind or abandoned. The war needs to stop. Peace is a human right."
What else can you do?
As well as donating to causes dedicated to helping those affected by the crisis in Ukraine, you can also join a protest in your local area, send humanitarian supplies, read the news from trusted sources, sign petitions and write to your local politicians calling for more to be done, and keep sharing information and amplifying marginalized voices on your social media pages.
What is happening in Ukraine?
To give you a better understanding of why it is absolutely vital that we do what we can to support Ukrainian civilians, here is a brief overview of the conflict and its devastating consequences.
On the morning of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans for a "special military operation" in Ukraine, aimed at the "demilitarization and denazification" of its neighbor. Per Bloomberg, Putin said that Russia's invasion is an effort "to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kyiv regime."
He continued: "To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation."
Putin then warned: "I would now like to say something very important for those who may be tempted to interfere in these developments from the outside.
"No matter who tries to stand in our way or all the more so create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history.
"No matter how the events unfold, we are ready. All the necessary decisions in this regard have been taken. I hope that my words will be heard."
In the hours following Putin's televised address, large explosions were heard throughout the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa, as Russian forces carried out devastating attacks in Ukraine by land, air, and sea.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister said at the time: "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
The Ukrainian government has reported civilian infrastructure being destroyed, resulting in thousands of people being left without sufficient water and electricity supply. Many are also are unable to go out and buy basic essentials as bridges and roads are unpassable.
Hospitals have also been hit hard by the crisis, with doctors facing shortages of medical equipment and medicines. Even oxygen supplies are "dangerously low", the World Health Organisation has warned, as trucks were unable to transport supplies from plants to hospitals around the country.
A United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesperson also said earlier this week that if the war continues, it could result in up to four million people seeking refuge in other countries.
The bottom line is, as the fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian forces continues, the people of Ukraine are in desperate need of support. Please do what you can to help.
