More than 1.3 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded the country. Most have escaped to Poland and other surrounding countries, even though they have to wait nearly 40 hours to cross the border. These have been mostly women and children, as men ages 18-60 aren’t allowed to leave the country. The refugees from Ukraine will be given the right to live, work, and access housing and educational support in the European Union for up to three years without having to claim asylum. However, as of right now, it is not official whether this will apply to non-Ukrainian nationals.
With the war and tension building between Russia and Ukraine, the whole world is watching. If this becomes a global issue, everyone will be affected and whatever happens, this will go down as a huge part of world history. People in Ukraine are dying and being forced to leave their homes and a life they’ve always known. As the situation escalates, the need for help escalates as well. How can we help support Ukraine in their time of need from the United States? Here are a few organizations you can donate to help give emergency relief and support those fleeing to nearby countries.
- Voices of Children
- Based in Ukraine and founded in 2015, the mission of Voices of Children is that no child is left alone with war trauma. They give psychological and psychosocial support to children who have suffered from the result of war and help families with everyday difficulties, treatment, and rehabilitation. They create video content and use art therapy to help children, and promote children’s rights by respecting, understanding, and being committed to finding the needs of every child. They are currently working on the towns along the frontline of the war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
- Doctors Without Borders
- Doctors Without Borders is a worldwide organization that provides support to people in distress. On March 5th, they reported that the humanitarian situation in Mariupol is catastrophic, with heavy attacks continuing and food supplies running dangerously low. There is no water, electricity, or heating, and internet and phone services have been cut off. Doctors Without Borders has more staff coming into Ukraine to support the medical emergency response, and their immediate priority is to provide supplies to hospitals in need.
- Save the Children
- Founded in 1919, this organization was the first global movement in support of children in need. They state that “Ukraine’s children are caught in the crossfire of this adult war. It should never have come to this.” Over 400,000 children in Eastern Ukraine live in areas that are at a high risk of the direct impacts of the war, including being injured or killed by guns, landmines, and explosive weapons, and being displaced from their homes. As it gets colder in Kyiv, children may face long days and nights in below-freezing temperatures. Save the Children has been distributing winter and hygiene kits, providing cash grants to families to meet their basic needs, as well as providing psychosocial support, and safe, quality education.
- CARE
- CARE is dedicated to fighting global poverty and world hunger and is raising money to give Ukrainians water, food, hygiene kits, winter kits, ongoing psychosocial support, and cash assistance. Their current goal is to provide support for 4 million people, prioritizing women, children, families, and the elderly. Overall, they aim for “a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security.” They choose to put women and girls in the center of their mission because they believe in equal rights and opportunities for all.
These organizations are just a starting point for the ways you can donate to help Ukraine. The civilians didn’t ask for this war, they are being put in the middle of it and are unfairly paying and being harmed for the choices of Russia’s dictating leadership. Support Ukraine today and help save the many innocent lives on the front lines.