How to help the people of Ukraine from Australia

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, people around the world have been searching for meaningful ways to donate and support those directly affected. To make a donation towards the immediate and long term aid needed in Ukraine, you’ll want to know your money is going where it can be best used.

If you’re in Australia and wondering how you can help, read on for some local and international charities and organisations to consider — all of which are working tirelessly to help those who need it the most at this time.

Charities in Ukraine to donate to

Ukrainian Red Cross

The Ukrainian Red Cross is part of the country’s national emergency response network, actively working with public authorities to support in a range of ways:

• Mobilise emergency response teams
• Deliver supplies to displaced people and other impacted by the crisis
• Provide medical, social and humanitarian support

Donate to the Ukrainian Red Cross here.

With Ukraine

With Ukraine has been set up by the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, as a special support fund to help Ukraine at this time. Donations can be made online in a range of currencies.

Donate to With Ukraine here.

Razom

Razom means together in Ukrainian. This organisation was founded in New York to support protesters in Kyiv’s Maidan during the winter of 2013- 2014. Since then, Razom has been involved in a broad range of projects to support Ukraine - including at this time a role in providing emergency aid where it’s needed on the ground.

Donate to Razom for Ukraine here.

Voices of Children

Voices of Children is active in the eastern regions of Ukraine, where conflict has already affected many children. Their mission is to ensure no children are left with war trauma, through work including:

• Psychological and psychosocial support to families impacted by war
• Practical individual help including rehabilitation and treatment of children
• Promoting children’s rights to give them a louder voice

Donate to Voices of Children here.

Nova Ukraine

Nova Ukraine is a registered nonprofit which aims to provide humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, with a view to building a strong civil society. At the outset of the war, Nova Ukraine redirected all its efforts to make an immediate impact through:

• Humanitarian aid delivered through established partners on the ground in Ukraine
• Emergency resources for refugees and Ukrainians who have remained in their homes

Donate to Nova Ukraine here.

Australian and global charities you can donate to

Australian Red Cross

The Australian Red Cross is supporting the those affected by the war in Ukraine through:

• Specialist aid workers to assist local teams responding to the crisis
• Providing emergency relief assistance like shelter, water and sanitation
• Helping restore contact with family members separated by the crisis

Donate to the Australian Red Cross here

Caritas Australia

Caritas Australia collaborating with Caritas Ukraine is providing families with emergency assistance like food, water, shelter and hygiene support.

They are also providing psychosocial support, transportation and assistance to displaced families.

Donate to Caritas Australia here

Doctors Without Borders

Since the outbreak of war, Doctors Without Borders has been working to send emergency response teams to Ukraine and the surrounding countries. Their activities include providing on the ground emergency care, distributing medical supplies and training local doctors and surgeons in trauma care to be able to respond to injuries caused by the conflict.

Donate to Doctors Without Borders here.

Save the Children

Save the Children is hoping to reach and support 3.5 million vulnerable children in Ukraine, with activities including:

• Distributing essential supplies
• Providing vouchers and cash to families struggling to meet their basic needs
• Offering mental health and psychosocial support to children and their families

Donate to Save the Children here.

Global Giving

Global Giving works in disaster relief situations, through empowering local populations and making sure decisions about how help can best be directed are taken on the ground. Donations are passed to local partners in Ukraine and the surrounding countries where refugees are being welcomed, so that emergency aid, support and longer term grants can be made to help those impacted by the war.

Donate to Global Giving here.

Unicef

Unicef actively supports children and families in Ukraine, and has a local presence working to:

• Provide children and families with safe access to food and water
• Offer child health and protection services
• Support displaced families with a special focus on children who have been separated from their families

Donate to Unicef here.

How to make sure you’re donating safely?

Don’t get caught out by fraudsters trying to capitalise on the increase in charitable giving.

Stay safe when donating in general:

• Be wary of unsolicited calls or messages claiming to be from registered charities - end the call and look up the specific charity online if you're unsure.
• Don’t assume a charity is legitimate because it’s been shared by a connection on social media - do your own research, too.
• Don’t donate to a charity which is insisting on payments for cash collection, gift vouchers or cryptocurrency - it’s likely to be a scam.

And once you’ve chosen your preferred charity:

• Check the website to see if it is secure, up to date, and gives details about the work being done.
• Check if the charity's webside contains the Registered Charity Tick.
• Look to see if the charity is registered. Registration requirements depend on the country the charity is based in - for Australian charities, check if the charity is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
• Find a review of your charity on the Give website, or use a site like Charity Navigator which issues a star rating to charities based on how efficient and transparent their working practices are.

How to support countries on Ukraine borders

If you’d like to support countries near to Ukraine which have welcomed refugees and those displaced by the war, you may choose to donate to a local charity in your preferred country, or an international organisation working in the region, like the UNHCR Refugee Agency or Doctors Without Borders. Here are some local contacts in countries bordering Ukraine:

Hungarian charities to donate to

• Hungarian Red Cross - The Hungarian Red Cross has launched a specific appeal to support refugees from Ukraine.
• Age of Hope - a Hungarian based foundation for the protection of early children that’s been around for 10 years.
• Budapest Bike Maffia - a popular foundation of bikers that help with food collection and donations.

Moldovan charities to donate to

• Moldova World Children’s Fund - The Moldova World Children’s Fund has launched a fundraiser specifically to help Ukrainian children arriving in the country as refugees.
• Children on the Edge - this organisation based in the UK works particularly with refugees arriving in Moldova and Romania from Ukraine.

Polish charities to donate to

• Polish Red Cross - The Polish Red Cross is working with other Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations to support displaced people from Ukraine.
• Polish Humanitarian Action - PAH is providing food and other emergency aid to refugees arriving in Poland.
• WONDER Foundation - Established in 2018, this organisation helps Ukrainian migrants in Poland - and has now focused resources on supporting the refugees arriving due to the war.

Romanian charities to donate to

• Romanian Red Cross - As in other countries, the Romanian Red Cross is focused on supporting humanitarian efforts to help refugees from Ukraine.
• Romanian Peace Fund - set up with the Romanian United Fund and the Embassy of Romania to the US, this fund is providing healthcare, food and hygiene items to refugees

Slovakian charities to donate to

• People in Need Slovakia - This organisation is raising money to support people impacted by the war in Ukraine, including providing food, water, hygiene supplies, information and psychosocial support.
• Magna - Magna is working to provide medical and humanitarian support in Ukraine and among the refugees who have arrived in Slovakia already.
• Depaul Slovensko - This homeless charity is working to support the homeless in Ukraine as well as people who have arrived in Slovakia and need food, medical and emergency help.

Supporting charities for minority groups:

While the war in Ukraine has caused a humanitarian crisis which impacts many, charitable organisations on the ground have reported that some minority groups may be struggling disproportionately. If you’d like to have your donation put to support a specific community here are some ideas:

LGBTQ+

• Choose Love - This campaign aims to work through local partners in Ukraine to meet essential needs, and offer legal and mental health support across the LGBTQ+ community.
• Outright - Outright is working to help marginalised people access the social and humanitarian help they need, especially among displaced communities.
• Insight Ukraine - Supports the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine with meeting basic needs including safety and health, and offers psychological support as needed.

Women

• Care - Care is a global humanitarian organisation which prioritises the needs of women, children and the vulnerable elderly.
• International Rescue Committee - The IRC works to support refugees and displaced people, who in this conflict are overwhelmingly women and children.
• Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights - Providing emergency, legal, financial and medical support for women, trans and non binary people.

Black and non European refugees

• Coalition to Support Black People In Ukraine - This fund is raising money to support Black people who are trying to leave Ukraine, with practical supplies and the funds needed to relocate.
• PayPal Pool - Help Afro-Caribbean Students Leaving Ukraine - Fundraising to help with the immediate funding needed to leave Ukraine, as well as longer term support to get back to family.

Emergency Hotline for African, Asian and other international students

The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that their team opened an Emergency Hotline for foreign students who are having difficulties leaving Ukraine.