How To Help The People Of Ukraine And Poland

As a million or more people cross the border into Poland, fleeing Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, aid is desperately needed to support those forced to leave their homes and those who have stayed behind to defend their country. Here is information on how to support both the Ukrainian government and the refugee effort. Please donate if you can!

Szczecin Philharmonic with Ukrainian flag illumination – image © Szczecinolog / CC BY-SA 4.0

As anyone keeping up with the news will know, Poland has become the main conduit for refugees out of Ukraine. At least a million people are reckoned to have passed over the border and Poland provides a vital supply line for resources back into the country. Within Ukraine, the government desperately needs help with military and medical equipment, as well as humanitarian aid. We have listed information on how to donate directly.

There are also links for donations to on-the-ground organisations focused on different vulnerabilities and priorities, such as children. By helping these organisations, you will also be supporting Poland’s heroic efforts.

If you are a refugee yourself, the next section has information about getting help wherever you arrive. We also link to information on how you can pressure politicians to increase sanctions on the Russian money financing these war crimes.

These resources are all verified and safe to use.

Information For Refugees Leaving Ukraine

The non-profit Defend Ukraine maintains a page for refugees who find themselves in Poland, Romania, Hungrary, Moldova, Georgia, or the United Kingdom, with links to online resources and phone numbers. These include information about accommodation, legal and medical issues, and mental health.

Donating Money Directly To The Ukrainian Government And Armed Forces

The National Bank of Ukraine has set up a special account to donate directly to Ukrainian armed forces. You can donate directly in most major currencies or Google Pay, but the page also gives full information for bank transfers from various countries.

You can also donate cryptocurrency directly to the Ukrainian government:

• BTC: 357a3So9CbsNfBBgFYACGvxxS6tMaDoa1P
• ETH: 0x165CD37b4C644C2921454429E7F9358d18A45e14
• USDT (trc20): TEFccmfQ38cZS1DTZVhsxKVDckA8Y6VfCy

Donating Money For Medical Supplies In Ukraine

The Ukrainian war effort is also in great need of medical supplies, such as first aid kits. You can donate to help buy these essential resources via:

• Leleka Foundation
• Razom for Ukraine
• United Help Ukraine

Donating Money And Goods For Humanitarian Aid In Ukraine

The easiest way to help out those affected by the war is to donate to one of the following organisations. They all have the experience and infrastructure to make good use of resources.

• Polish Humanitarian Action and Ukraine Aid Berlin are focused on helping refugees in Poland and Germany respectively.
• UNICEF and Voices of Children are both focused on helping children and their families with supplies and mental health protection.
• Red Cross Ukraine offers a range of medical services on the ground, while UkraineNow is a more tech-focused response to shifting infrastructural priorities.
• Many refugees will be dealing with trauma and mental health issues. International Medical Corps and Project Hope are two key organisations who can help with these issues. The UN Refugee agency has also launched an appeal.

Businesses and other organisations can also donate goods for citizens and the military. The Ukrainian government maintains a list of priorities and asks that you contact them via +380 630690294 / +380 630690295 / [email protected] if you are able to help out with bulk items and transportation.

Similarly, a warehouse in Poland is also accepting humanitarian aid. You can find out more from HelpUkraine. They keep a Google Sheet of priorities.

Helping Ukraine From The UK

If you are in the UK and wish to help, there is an official government page with information and advice.

Any financial donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal will be matched by the UK government (up to £25 million). The DEC launched in 1963 and liaises with 15 humanitarian charities on the ground to get funds where they are needed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Partner charities include British Red Cross, Action Against Hunger, Oxfam, and Save The Children, and you can read how donations are already being used. A £100 donation provides emergency food for two families for one month.

If you are in the UK and can offer somewhere safe for Ukrainians fleeing the war, the government is expected to announce a new sponsorship scheme in the next few days.

Other Ways To Support Ukraine

Inadvertently or not, the international flow of money and commoditities is funding Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. While the US, EU, and UK have rolled out sanctions, these clearly do not go far enough. Defend Ukraine offers a useful page on how to contact your local political representative and demand more sanctions. Make it clear that you will vote them out of office if they do not act now.

Reliable information is also crucial. The Kyiv Independent is reporting and fact checking on the ground, and is partnered with a fundraiser to keep Ukrainian media going.