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Resources for Humanitarian Support for Ukraine

Women in heavy coats in Ukraine

On Feb. 24, Russia’s military began a broad military assault on Ukraine, involving air and missile strikes in main cities, and invasion of ground troops.

This attack is a significant escalation in a multi-year crisis stemming from 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and supported armed separatists in Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia.

With the devastation and death toll rising daily, residents, including journalists and minority groups who fear harm or persecution under a potential Russian occupation, are fleeing the country or leaving areas that are being bombed or at risk of further conflict. The border with Poland quickly had lines of refugees’ miles long.

Ukraine was already experiencing a humanitarian crisis in the east of the country. With hundreds of thousands of refugees displaced or seeking safety, the scale and extent of humanitarian needs from this rapid escalation and expansion of the conflict sees no end. We know that people forced from their homes need shelter, food, clean water, and other necessities, particularly in the harsh winter climate. 

As with most disasters, cash donations are recommended by disaster experts as they allow for on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the greatest area of need, support economic recovery and ensure donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs.

Here are a few organizations working to address immediate and on-going needs:

  • CDP Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fund focuses on addressing humanitarian needs that arise, particularly among the most vulnerable, marginalized and at-risk internally displaced peoples and refugees. CDP is also in contact with and can grant to Ukrainian and other international organizations that are not 501(c)3 entities.
  • International Rescue Committee: The IRC is on the ground in Poland and preparing to support displaced families. Donations will help provide food, medical care, and emergency supplies to refugee families.
  • CARE has launched an immediate response to reach 4 million Ukrainians with urgent aid, prioritizing the needs of women and girls, the elderly, and families. CARE will be working with local partners in the region, with an immediate priority to distribute critical food and water supplies as well as hygiene kits, cash assistance and psychosocial support to impacted families.  
  • Global Giving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund will provide shelter, food, and clean water, health and psychosocial support, and access to education and economic assistance.
  • International Red Cross: ICRC is responding to urgent humanitarian needs and continues their life saving work. ICRC water engineers and doctors aim to help more than 3 million people access clean water and improve the living conditions of more than 66,000 whose homes have been damaged by heavy fighting.
    • ICRC, together with its partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, remains active in Ukraine, saving and protecting the lives of victims of armed conflict and violence.
  • Global Empowerment Mission has established a welcome center in Medyka, Poland/Ukraine border, which will serve as a Travel Relocation center and aid center.
    • The GEM Bstrong Fund will be used for booking and paying for flights and trains for those trying to leave the country.
    • Primary focus is relocation programs along with support of short-term vital necessities. Ukrainian Evacuees will be able to choose a country where they have family or friends that can take them in. 
  • Airbnb.org and Airbnb have announced that Airbnb.org will offer free, short-term housing to up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine.
    • These stays will be funded by Airbnb, Inc., donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, and the generosity of Hosts through Airbnb.org.
    • Anyone interested in opening their homes to support this effort can learn how to get involved at Airbnb.org.
  • Samaritan’s Purse:

    • Operating an Emergency Field Hospital that has been set up on the outskirts of Lviv, Ukraine.

    • They have scores of disaster response specialists on the ground working in areas of Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova.

  • Atlas Network:
    • Raising funds to directly help non-profit groups who support freedom and liberty in Ukraine via the Ukraine Freedom Fund.
  • And find more resources vetted by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.