As a humanitarian catastrophe unfolds in Ukraine, CARE Australia has launched a fundraising appeal to support those in need with food and other necessities. 

The escalating violence puts millions of lives at risk and threatens to displace hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

CARE will be supporting local partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to distribute food, water, hygiene kits and money for other essential supplies.

CARE Australia CEO Peter Walton said: “Tragically we can expect to see civilian casualties, mass displacement and the destruction of homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure — not to mention the fear and uncertainty people across the country are facing with every minute that violence continues.”

After eight years of conflict, Ukraine’s humanitarian needs are already significant, with nearly 3 million people in need of humanitarian support. 

Even prior to this week’s escalation of conflict, only 9% of the humanitarian funds needed according to the UN’s Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan had so far been raised.

Last month, Ukraine was second on CARE’s list of the Most Underreported Humanitarian Crises of 2021. Just 801 online articles on the crisis in Ukraine were detected in CARE’s analysis — which covers English and German language media — compared to 362,522 articles about Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah. 

Tax-deductible donations can be made at care.org.au/ukraine 

For media enquiries contact Iona Salter on 0413 185 634.