The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees is accepting donations to support those who are in need. The organization helps refugees in many ways, including legal assistance, on-the-ground supply support, and health care. Although children are the least responsible party in the armed conflict in Ukraine, they are the ones who suffer most from its effects. UNICEF https://corosocial.com/read-blog/94623 works to protect and provide nutrition and safe water for children, as well as education and protection for the people in the region. Less than three percent of every dollar donated goes towards administrative costs.
Kutcher and Kunis kickstart GoFundMe campaign for Ukraine
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have started a GoFundMe campaign for Ukraine to aid the region’s refugees. The couple have raised more than $21 million so far, and have received a match commitment from AirBnB. Proceeds from the campaign will go to the organizations Flexport and Airbnb, which are working with refugees in Ukraine to provide supplies and housing. The actors chose these charities because they had already built up the infrastructure to support the plight of these people. Besides, they wanted to give donors a sense of purpose and a way to donate.
A few days after the page went live, the Ron Conway Family made a donation of $2 million, and other celebrities have pledged to match that amount. The stars have also urged people to donate to the United Nations refugee agency and help the displaced people of Ukraine. A GoFundMe campaign for Ukraine has helped raise nearly $2 million in less than one week.
American Red Cross contributes $12 million dollars to relief efforts in Mariupol
In a bid to provide assistance to the besieged city of Mariupol, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has pledged $12 million dollars. The international organization has made repeated attempts to reach the besieged city. But so far, there are no signs of progress. The ICRC says that the situation in Mariupol is still critical and that assistance must be provided immediately.
The United States is providing economic assistance totaling over $1.6 billion in aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. The Russian military is blocking humanitarian corridors in Mariupol, which means that the population of the city is being kept inside. ICRC officials are attempting to evacuate as many residents as possible. However, the city’s city council announced that more than 2,000 people would be evacuated by buses on Saturday. As of today, however, the Russian military is still blocking humanitarian supplies from entering the city.
Russian tanker seized over alleged involvement in capturing Ukrainian navy vessels
The Russian security service (SBU) identified the ship, formerly known as the tanker “Neyma,” parked in the Black Sea port of Izmail. According to Russian media, the tanker was used in an operation last year to block Ukrainian navy vessels in the Kerch Strait. Russian coastguards fired on the ships, seized them, and detained 24 Ukrainian crewmembers.
The clash sparked outrage and international condemnation. The Ukrainian navy and the Russian military have a long and tense history of hostility. In 2014, Russia annexing Crimea provoked a pro-Russian separatist struggle in the eastern Donbass region. Ukraine’s ombudswoman, Lyudmyla Denisova, said the talks for the sailors’ release began to move forward after a phone call between Putin and Zelensky.
International Rescue Committee distributes SIM cards for cell phones in neighboring countries
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Red Cross are working together to help refugees in Ukraine make the most of new technology. SIM cards are a way to keep in touch with loved ones even if they cannot visit them in person. These mobile phones allow them to keep in touch with family and friends. Sim cards can be purchased from any retailer or online. In addition to providing cell phones, the UNHCR is distributing SIM cards for mobile phones in the neighboring countries.
The International Rescue Committee has partnered with telecom companies MTN and AirTel to distribute SIM cards to refugees with specific needs. For example, one refugee, Brian Kiden, uses a donated cell phone to receive an electronic cash transfer that allows him to buy food. The refugee crisis in neighboring countries is particularly difficult because connectivity is non-existent. For these refugees, the new technology will allow them to connect with other people who can provide them with basic services.
ICRC team delivers urgently needed aid to Mariupol
The International Committee of the Red Cross is trying to deliver urgently needed aid to Mariupol, a strategic Ukrainian port city, after similar attempts failed earlier this week. The city has no heat, electricity or clean water, and the conflict has rendered it a humanitarian disaster. As a result, the ICRC team is leading a convoy out of the city to reach those in need.
In recent days, the ICRC has escorted humanitarian convoys to the flooded city of Mariupol, where hundreds of people have been displaced from their homes. The ICRC is clearly a civilian target, and the convoy of 54 buses carrying evacuees was targeted by shelling and sniper fire near Berdyansk on Thursday.
