Finnish Red Cross to help those affected by strikes in Ukraine

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has continued to deepen. Strikes on critical infrastructure worsen the situation, removing access to sufficient electricity, water and heat. 

“The cuts in the energy supply have been some of the worst in the Kyiv region since 2022. In an urban environment, the majority of people depend on centralised heating, electricity and water distribution systems, and 800,000 people have been without electricity in Kyiv alone. Repeated electricity and heating outages have dropped the temperature of many homes close to zero due to the freezing weather. Life is very difficult, especially for older people living alone, disabled people and families with small children,” says Toni Jokinen, Head of International Aid Support and Coordination Unit at the Finnish Red Cross.

Schools, daycare centres and health care services also suffer from repeated energy outages. New strikes have destroyed recently repaired systems in many places.

Ukrainian Red Cross Society delivers tangible help to people in the cold

The 300,000 euros provided by the Disaster Relief Fund of the Finnish Red Cross will be used to support the aid work of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. 

The Ukrainian Red Cross has responded to the increasing need for help in cooperation with rescue authorities. In support of the authorities, it has evacuated people and organised mobile warming centres and field kitchens where people have been provided with hot meals and the possibility to charge their phones, for example. The Ukrainian Red Cross has also distributed basic supplies such as sleeping bags, blankets and hygiene supplies to people. It also provides home care for people in a vulnerable situation who cannot leave their homes during the cold weather. Volunteers provide first aid and psychosocial support to those in need.

The Ukrainian Red Cross helps about 1,500 people every day at mobile warming centres. In addition to this, it has provided generators to secure the supply of reserve power during energy outages.

Finnish Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund provides significant help

Four years after the escalation of the conflict, 12.7 million people need humanitarian aid. Within Ukraine, 3.8 million people have had to flee their homes, and many have had to do this several times as a result of continuous attacks. 

To date, the Finnish Red Cross has directed more than 37 million euros from its Disaster Relief Fund to help people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The sum includes both financial and material aid. In addition to this, the Finnish Red Cross has sent more than 70 aid workers from various sectors over a four-year period to support aid work, which has also been paid for by the Disaster Relief Fund.

Since February 2022, the Finnish Red Cross has also directed humanitarian aid from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland to the International Committee of the Red Cross to the total sum of 17.5 million euros.

The Finnish Red Cross is prepared to help the Ukrainian Red Cross Society for as long as support is needed.