As the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens more lives, here are some meaningful ways you can help.
The world was brought to a standstill as news broke on Feb. 24 that Russia had invaded Ukraine. Social For Action released a statement condemning Russia’s attack on Ukraine and calling for all military action to cease immediately, as well as for humanitarian aid to be supported as the conflict unfolds.
Social For Action has pulled together a list of things you can do to support the people of Ukraine wherever you are.
According to UN data, in 2021 the crisis in Ukraine affected 1.5 million people — half a million of whom are children and minors. Since the Russian invasion in Feb. 2022, the UN’s refugee agency has reported over 1.7 million people have become refugees.
As with any crisis, women, children, marginalized communities, and the poor will be those most affected. Ukrainian parents are already taking heartbreaking measures to protect their children including sending them into school wearing stickers identifying their blood types in case of bombings.
In the current crisis, Black people — especially migrants — are reporting experiencing racism at the border while trying to leave the country. Footage has gone viral of people being blocked from boarding trains and there have been worrying reports that police are prioritizing white Ukranians over Black people crossing the border.
Meanwhile, there are many students from overseas who were studying in Ukraine and are now trying to leave. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on March 2 that an emergency hotline has been established for African, Asian – Indians, and other students wishing to leave Ukraine (at +380934185684), working to ensure their safety and speed up their passage.
How Can I Help?
While many of us might feel helpless when confronted with geopolitical machinations of this scale, we’ve rounded up some ways you can help the people of Ukraine right now.
DONATE
Organizations on the ground and globally are actively supporting people within Ukraine and refugees seeking safety elsewhere with medical and humanitarian aid.
These organizations include:
1. People in Need is providing humanitarian aid to over 200,000 people on the ground. For those most in need, they provide food packages, emergency shelter, safe access to drinking water, hygiene items, and coal for heating. Donate here.
2. The Ukrainian Red Cross does loads of humanitarian work, from aiding refugees to training doctors. Donate here.
3. The International Medical Corps is on the front lines and prepared to help citizens with emergency health care services, as well as mental health and psychosocial support. The agency is also keeping the pandemic top of mind throughout the crisis by prioritizing COVID-19 awareness and prevention services, to help keep displaced citizens safe from the pandemic. Donate here.
4. CARE is responding to the crisis by providing Ukrainians in need with food, hygiene kits, psychosocial support services, access to water, and access to cash. Donate here.
5. Nova Ukraine is a nonprofit that delivers aid packages to Ukraine with everything from baby food and hygiene products, to clothes and household supplies. Donate here.
6. UNICEF is repairing schools damaged by the bombings and providing an emergency response to children affected by the conflict. Donate here.
7. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has stepped up its operations and is working with governments in neighboring countries “calling on them to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection.” You can help support the UNHCR’s work supporting refugees by donating here, and take action to send a tweet urging governments and businesses to support the United Nations’ urgent appeal for $1.7 billion to deliver life-saving humantarian support.
8. OutRight Action International is helping to support LGBTQ+ groups and organizations on the ground, setting up shelters and providing safety for citizens. All donations made to OutRight will go directly to the cause. You can donate here.
9. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is deploying emergency operations in Ukraine and surrounding countries to provide food assistance to those fleeing the conflict. Donate here.
10. Save the Children is working with partners to respond to meet the urgent needs of affected children and their families. It’s ready to provide life-saving assistance, such as food, water, cash transfers, and safe places for children as people flee amid freezing temperatures and brutal conditions, and to scale up portions to ensure children impacted by the crisis have the support they need. Find out more and donate here.
11. SOS Children’s Villages has worked in Ukraine since 2003 and is coordinating an emergency response to support families who are living in the conflict areas and those who have been internally displaced. Find out more and donate.
12. The World Health Organization Foundation is raising funds for WHO’s Health Emergency Appeal for Ukraine. An estimated $57.5 million must be raised to deliver urgent physical and mental health care to the 18 million people in Ukraine needing urgent humanitarian assistance, and more than 4 million refugees who’ll need protection and assistance in the coming months. You can donate here, and share the WHO Foundation’s call for donations on your own social media, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
WHY WE’RE WRITING
What’s at stake?
Aggression will surely result in violence, in hundreds of thousands of people being displaced and deprived of basic human rights, pushing more people to the brink of hunger and poverty.
What can we do?
The world must stand with the people of Ukraine, and make all financial and humanitarian assistance available to all who will be impacted by the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.
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