Why Ukraine also needs financial support during this time
The most beautiful aid actions are being organized, from collecting diapers to picking up family members at the border with Poland. But Giro555 is also running at full speed, with a national fundraising campaign on Monday, March 7, from the collaborating aid organizations. Why is it so important that there is especially financial support? We called Giro555 for answers.
‘The Netherlands is a country that helps people, and it is wonderful to see that now. All the private initiatives with lists for diapers, baby food, and clothes; an enormous amount of items are being brought in. I see it in my neighborhood too, even the people collecting are overwhelmed by the quantity,’ says press officer Sandra van Houten from Giro555. ‘Transporting those items costs money. And where should it go? Where can you still cross the border? Who is going to distribute these items? Try organizing that, it’s almost an impossible task. In some cases, it fortunately goes well, but even for aid workers who are used to doing this, the situation is now unpredictable. The situation in Ukraine and the neighboring countries that are hosting refugees changes every hour.’
On Monday, there is a national fundraising campaign for Ukraine, and Van Houten clearly explains why donations in the form of money are especially important right now. ‘As collaborating aid organizations, we have people on the ground. Our aid workers are sometimes also in the line of fire and have to take cover. The Red Cross has people in Ukraine from affiliated aid organizations who do everything they can. We first look on-site at what is needed and, if possible, make purchases of goods in the region to support the local economy. It is sometimes already difficult for our aid workers to provide help in the right place, especially if you don’t know where to start,’ she explains.
The Red Cross provides humanitarian aid with the collected donations via Giro555. This includes water, medicine, blankets, and psychological support by offering a listening ear. Van Houten: ‘It is super sympathetic and heartwarming that people want to help, but at this moment it is almost impossible to sort all those collected items. All those bags of clothing are usually pre-sorted because not everything is usable. For example, it is not clear whether you can distribute the collected stuffed animals to children in the right way. With a donation, your help reaches the right place, because we look with the affiliated aid organizations in the region at what is needed. With people who are trained for that and who provide humanitarian aid.’
Every successful aid action is fortunately one, but financial support for Ukraine is now at least as important. This way, organized aid agencies can do their work effectively, and no goods are lost along the way. For 70 euros, you can already provide someone with a warm overnight package including a sleeping bag, blanket, sleeping mat, food, and hygiene items. Together in action for Ukraine: donate now to Giro555.
