Cash will provide immediate assistance to people forced to flee
SCIAF’s Ukraine appeal has received a major donation from the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government’s £500,000 donation will provide immediate assistance to people who have been forced to flee their homes and are in urgent need of food, water, safe accommodation, transport and information.
This will also go towards providing families and children with psycho-social support and child support services.
Funding will be channeled through Caritas Ukraine which is supporting people displaced by the conflict inside Ukraine.
Its work has expanded from eastern Ukraine to helping people country-wide. Caritas is also assisting people at Ukraine’s borders as they wait to leave the country.
Within the span of a week, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has forced over a million people to flee their homes, with latest reports suggesting over 100,000 people are now internally displaced in their own country but this number is expected to rise.
SCIAF is in close contact with its Caritas partners and is receiving regular updates on the urgent and ongoing needs in the region.
The funding from the Scottish Government will make a significant difference but more help is needed. SCIAF continues to urge people to donate to its Ukraine Appeal at sciaf.org.uk/ukraine or by calling 0141 354 5555.
SCIAF is a member of the Scottish Government's Humanitarian Emergency Fund which has played an important role in facilitating this support.
Alistair Dutton, Chief Executive of SCIAF, said: “We are appalled to see the brutal invasion of Ukraine and we stand in friendship and solidarity with its people.
“We are very grateful for the Scottish Government’s donation which is a great start to our much-needed appeal. This will provide immediate assistance to Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes in the face of war and are in urgent need.
“As a member of the international Catholic aid network – Caritas – this funding will go directly into the hands of local humanitarians on the ground in Ukraine.
“It is an extremely volatile situation with people in need of food, water, shelter, support and more as they face an uncertain future.
“The funding from the Scottish Government will make a significant difference but much, much more will be needed. We continue to urge people to give as generously as they can to our appeal at sciaf.org.uk/ukraine.
“We continue to pray for restraint, peace and security. This crisis is a reminder of the suffering people face at the hands of conflict. SCIAF is proud to help people in times of need around the world.”
Scottish Government International Development Minister Neil Gray said:
“It is vital that aid reaches the people of Ukraine as quickly as possible, and is targeted to the most vulnerable.
“The Scottish Government has committed an initial £4 million to support global humanitarian efforts in this crisis – I am pleased to confirm £500,000 of this has been allocated to SCIAF to provide urgent assistance to those who have been forced to flee their homes.”
