Dear friend, We’re writing to update you on our recent work in Ukraine. Mercy Corps team members in Ukraine and at border crossings in Poland and Romania share the latest on our emergency humanitarian response. Situation on the ground As people in Ukraine continue to flee conflict and huddle in bomb shelters, the need for humanitarian aid is growing. Inside Ukraine, supplies are running out in urban areas facing intense conflict. Populations of towns and cities in the western part of the country have grown two- or three-fold with the influx of displaced people needing immediate help. At the border, communities are providing vital assistance — and straining to meet the needs of an influx of refugees, now at more than 3 million. People are searching for where to go next and where to access basic services.
Mercy Corps team members in Ukraine prepare supplies for distribution.
Mercy Corps’ response is focused on supporting local partners who know their communities’ needs best. We are currently planning distribution of emergency cash assistance and connecting Ukrainians with essential information services. Supporting local partners In Ukraine and Romania, Mercy Corps partners are getting urgently needed supplies to regions most affected by the conflict. Supplies include flour, oil, rice, sugar, buckwheat, tea, baby food, medicine, and medical supplies. Mercy Corps teams have also witnessed the challenges facing third-country nationals, in particular young students and migrant laborers from Asia and Africa, as they attempt to cross the border into Poland. Our partners are focused on helping them at reception points and providing them with information on travel, accommodations, food, and other resources. Emergency cash assistance Mercy Corps teams are working quickly to begin providing emergency cash assistance to Ukrainian refugees. Cash gives people the freedom to choose what they need most and will allow refugees to purchase essentials like food or accommodation. It also helps to support local businesses. Our teams are assessing the amounts needed and distribution mechanisms to ensure cash is disseminated effectively and securely. Information services We are focused on connecting people with reliable, verified information on how and where to access basic services, safe routes, and legal rights. Our teams are identifying the types of information most needed and efficient ways to distribute that information, whether that is through social media platforms, websites, or SMS messages.
Mercy Corps team members provide vital information to refugees at a border crossing.
If you would like to help people facing urgent crises in Ukraine and 40+ countries around the world, please send your gift to our Humanitarian Response Fund today. Sincerely, The Mercy Corps team |
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