Ukraine British Red Cross launches appeal to support humanitarian response

Press release

24 February 2022

For further information: press@redcross.org.uk

Contact number: 07710 391 703

The British Red Cross has launched an emergency fundraising appeal in response to the intensification of fighting in Ukraine, which threatens to bring a halt to essential services, create huge upheaval, loss of life, and separate families. Without urgent action to protect these services, large scale humanitarian implications are expected. 
 
The priority now is to assist people during this time of heightened tension, with access to clean water, health care, and psychosocial support. Red Cross teams are already responding to severe water shortages after intensified fighting left several water stations and pipelines, which serve more than one million people, out of order.   

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been working hand in hand with affected communities to respond to the vast humanitarian needs caused by almost eight years of conflict. 

Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, said:
“We are deeply concerned for the safety of communities given the recent intensification of fighting. Our volunteers and staff will continue to work closely with affected communities, to help them cover their basic needs and be prepared during these challenging times. We are focused on being adaptable, flexible, and responsive to whatever happens next. In the meantime, we remind that civilians and infrastructure must be spared at all times.”

Luke Tredget, Head of Emergencies at the British Red Cross, said:
“The heightened uncertainty is taking a huge toll on people. Ensuring the delivery of essential services is our main priority right now. As our teams are sheltering throughout the country, we reiterate that humanitarian actors must continue to have access to communities, and that people and essential services are respected at all times.” 

Visit the British Red Cross website, to donate to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information, or to request an interview, please contact:

Teresa Goncalves, tgoncalves@redcross.org.uk, 0044 (0) 7891 857 056
Sam Smith, ssmith@icrc.org, 0044 (0) 7809 374 593


British Red Cross  
 
For over 150 years, the British Red Cross has helped people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them recover and move on with their lives. www.redcross.org.uk