About The British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal

The following content has been published on behalf of the British Red Cross as means of informing people about the current humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

What is the current humanitarian situation in Ukraine? 

Millions of people are at risk of the deadly consequences of conflict in Ukraine. We are already seeing the immediate consequences for civilians, with the latest intensification triggering new displacement both within the country and across the borders. According to UNHCR, more than 500,000 people have left Ukraine in recent days. 

We fear increased suffering, with the potential of massive casualty numbers and extensive destruction of civilian objects like water and electricity plants, as well as mass displacement, trauma, family separation, and missing persons. In the past week, at least two major pumping stations in the Donetsk region, serving more than one million people and hospitals on either side of the line of contact, were left inoperable by the hostilities. Civilians and civilian infrastructure ensuring the delivery of essential services must be spared at all times.  

The objectives of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), along with the wider Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are to be able to react quickly and swiftly whatever happens. We will continue to be close to the affected communities to help them cover their basic needs and be prepared during challenging times. We are focused on being adaptable, flexible, and responsive.    

Why is the British Red Cross launching an appeal? 

The British Red Cross has launched an appeal to support the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners, to support people affected by the intensification of fighting in Ukraine. As part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the British Red Cross is always prepared and ready to support National Societies to respond during times of crisis. 

What will the money go towards? Where will it go?  

The appeal will support the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) working in Ukraine, and other Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners working in border countries.  

How will donations to the British Red Cross help people in Ukraine?  

Funds will be used to support the humanitarian response in Ukraine and the border countries.  

Donations to our appeal will be used to support the work of the Ukraine Red Cross and ICRC, reaching people in urgent need, including: 

- Supporting families with food, first aid and medicines 
- Supporting hospitals and healthcare facilities 
- Repairing vital infrastructure 
- Helping to repair homes, healthcare centres, schools and community centres.  

What is the Red Cross doing in Ukraine? 

- The Red Cross has been supporting people affected by this conflict for years.
- ICRC have been present for eight years, and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) have local teams of volunteers across the country also.
- There are around 3,000 URCS volunteers around the country, and so far an additional 1,000 people have signed up to help.
- URCS have distributed 30,000 food and hygiene parcels, and are helping people with disabilities to evacuate.
- URCS have provided food, warm clothing and other aid to around 8,000 people sheltering in metro stations. They are also providing first aid, and have done first aid training for 1,000 people in metro stations and bomb shelters. They are also also supporting fire fighters, medical and civil protection units. 
- Volunteers are also taking people to hospital, transporting medical supplies, and helping at blood donation points.
- They are also helping families to stay in contact, and educating people on international humanitarian law, and on risks of explosives.
- The ICRC has more than 600 staff in country.  
- ICRC are working to provide water and repair water infrastructure especially in areas in the east, where water supplies have been disrupted. They have set up water points and delivered water to villages and hospitals.  
- ICRC have also delivered emergency aid including jerry cans, first aid kits and weapons wounded kits. 
- The security situation permitting, ICRC teams in Ukraine will continue their work to repair vital infrastructure, support health facilities with medicines and equipment, and support families with food and hygiene items. 

What is the Red Cross doing in the border countries?  

Volunteers in eight nearby and bordering countries are helping people.

Polish Red Cross teams are distributing food and basic aid items and providing medical and psychosocial support for people arriving from Ukraine. They have also sent food and eight medical tents and equipment to Ukraine.  

With help from 1,000 volunteers, Russian Red Cross has collected 47 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including clothes, hygiene sets, blankets and household items for more than 18,000 people staying in temporary accommodation centres in Rostov and other regions. 

At the border crossing point in Ubla, the Slovak Red Cross has erected tents for people arriving from Ukraine. They are providing first aid, transporting people with disabilities and have set up tracing and restoring family links services. 

Hungarian Red Cross has established information and first aid points along the border with Ukraine and is also providing shelter, food and hygiene items for people arriving. 

Romanian Red Cross has deployed volunteers from all branches along the border to distribute food, water, basic aid items and hygiene products to people in need. They're also distributing SIM cards so people can keep in touch with their loved ones. 

The Red Cross in Moldova has opened a shelter in Chisinau for 800 people. Volunteers are collecting aid items from the public, and distributing food and hygiene items. 

Lithuanian Red Cross is preparing accommodation for people coming from Ukraine - both through people offering a place in their homes and in state-run centres. They're also collecting shoes, footwear and bedding for people in Ukraine. 

Why do you call it the ‘Ukraine crisis’, and not ‘war’? 

As a humanitarian movement, our role is to focus on the human impact of what is happening and to assist those in need. People are in crisis, and they are our focus. 

What is the Red Cross’ position on what is happening in Ukraine? Does it change anything for you? 

Wherever we work around the world, the Red Cross remain strictly neutral and impartial. We are a purely humanitarian organisation, whose work is guided by the principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality. Our priority is addressing the humanitarian needs of all people affected by the conflict, inside and outside Ukraine. Space for neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian action must be protected so that humanitarian organisations, like the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the wider Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement can maintain access to people who need our support. 

Is the Red Cross still in Donetsk and Luhansk? 

Yes. ICRC teams are on the ground working hard to respond to the humanitarian needs generated by long years of conflict. 

How can I make a donation? 

People can donate to our Ukraine Crisis appeal by calling, 0300 023 0820 or visiting redcross.org.uk/Ukraine. 

For more information on how our emergency appeals work, and what to give, see our webpage HERE.  

Is the Red Cross providing support to people looking for missing family members? 

Missing people are one of the Red Cross’ top priorities. Long since before this escalation in fighting, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society worked closely with families of the missing, to help them to find answers about what happened to their loved ones. 

Is the Red Cross preparing for a potential flow of people from Ukraine towards other European countries?  

According to Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than half a million people have left Ukraine due to the conflict escalation. Red Cross teams in bordering countries including Poland, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania have been preparing to support people on arrival in each country.  

Red Cross volunteers are helping people in eight nearby and bordering countries. They are providing shelter, psychosocial support, first aid, hot drinks, and information.  

Are people also fleeing into Russia? 

Over the past few days, it has been reported that more than 6,600 people who arrived in the Rostov region, have been accommodated in temporary facilities. About half of them are children. 

With the support of Movement partners, the Russian Red Cross (RRC) is assisting people who crossed the border into Russia, around 40 volunteers are helping in Rostov and Voronezh regions. On 21 February, the RRC delivered one truck of relief items (hygiene kits, Protective Personal Equipment, clothes) to the Rostov region, and has coordinated with Coca-Cola to deliver four tones of drinking water.  

What challenges are the Red Cross facing in the response? 

The Red Cross is responding but there are challenges. Teams are dealing with blocked roads, and insecurity due to the ongoing violence. This makes it hard to reach people or move supplies.  

The volunteers face the same challenges as the rest of the population – in some places stores are closed, so it’s harder to get food or medicine. Communications are difficult in some areas.  

Despite this, teams are doing all they can to help people.  

The Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. In the unlikely event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information, click HERE.