Some S$2 million in donations, including the Singapore Government’s contribution of US$100,000 (S$135,863), was raised by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) within a week to provide relief for the besieged citizens of Ukraine.

The humanitarian organisation said in a statement on Friday (March 4) that the first tranche of aid, worth US$100,000, has arrived in the wartorn eastern European country that was invaded by neighbouring Russia on Feb 24.

That aid is now being distributed by the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Mr Benjamin William, the secretary-general and chief executive officer of SRC, said his team has been working closely with its counterparts in Ukraine to address the most pressing needs.

Much of the focus, he said, will be on the vulnerable. This includes children, many who are unaccompanied, single women with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

 “The combination of an active and bloody conflict, extreme cold weather and Covid-19 means that for the people in the conflict regions and those who have been displaced from their homes — (which is) already exceeding 1 million — the days ahead will be a struggle for survival.”

Mr Williams added that essential needs will only continue to increase day by day, and the organisation can only reach out to meet the needs of the affected through the “collaborative effort of many parties”, including those in Singapore.

SRC said in its statement that the key challenges in delivering humanitarian aid include logistical limitations and disrupted supply chains.

“Unsolicited in-kind donations for Ukraine remain a challenge for the Red Cross Societies on the ground to handle, exacerbating capacity to store, transport and distribute it,” it added.

As such, SRC encourages those who wish to help to provide monetary donations as the flexibility of cash allows the organisation to purchase items more quickly at nearby unaffected regions.

To date more than 30,000 Ukrainians have already received humanitarian aid from the Red Cross emergency stockpile, which includes hygiene and food kits, warm clothing and medicine.

Aside from providing necessities to civilians seeking shelter, SRC said the Ukraine Red Cross Rapid Response Units are also supporting the country’s fire brigades and state emergency services in repairing civilian buildings and infrastructure, among other forms of assistance.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by LOW YOUJIN

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