ShelterBox - Our Ukraine Response

ShelterBox is responding to the Ukraine crisis and sending a team to eastern Europe. We are working to understand the type of emergency shelter people fleeing Ukraine need, if our aid will be suitable, and which locations we might be able to work in. We are coordinating with local authorities, Rotary and other aid organisations to make sure as many people as possible will receive the help they need.

The UN is reporting hundreds of thousands of people on the move inside the country or trying to leave. They are predicting as many 12 million people may need humanitarian assistance, with 6.7 million people projected to be internally displaced within Ukraine. There may be up to 4 million refugees; more than 660,000 people are reported to have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries as of today at 11am.

We stand with the UN in calling for peace and the protection of civilians affected by the crisis in Ukraine and critical basic infrastructure and services. People leaving must be able to do so safely. Humanitarian access must also be maintained throughout the conflict- affected areas so that the people who need support can find it.

Sanj Srikanthan, ShelterBox CEO, has said, “We are witnessing a vast humanitarian crisis unfold. With every hour that passes more and more people are fleeing Ukraine, desperately seeking safety and refuge. Hundreds of thousands of people have already crossed Ukraine’s borders and that number is rising quickly as the situation continues to deteriorate. The indications are that this will not be a short conflict.

ShelterBox is responding and sending a team to the region who will be positioned to inform how we respond and coordinate our work.”

ShelterBox has experience of working in Ukraine - carrying out emergency responses to floods in 2003 and 2008, and assessments in 2014 following the outbreak of the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region.

This is an unprecedented and rapidly changing situation, but we are committed to supporting Ukrainian families affected by this crisis, as we continue to support families in Yemen, Syria, Cameroon and elsewhere. We’re speaking to Rotary and Rotaract leaders as well as members in the region to gather as much understanding as possible.

We will keep you informed as the situation unfolds.