Ukraine Crisis Appeal

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and other Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners are responding to existing and emerging humanitarian needs in Ukraine and surrounding impacted countries.

Within Ukraine, teams are providing first aid and psychosocial support, transporting people to hospital, helping to reunite families through the Red Cross hotline, and delivering humanitarian aid to shelters, medical facilities, and temporary accommodations for those who are displaced. They’re supporting families with food, water and hygiene kits, and organising bedding and clothing in places of temporary accommodation.

Red Cross teams across Europe have also been supporting millions of people who have fled Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. They have supported people across 17 countries providing shelter, healthcare, cash and voucher assistance.

Read more in IFRC's three-year report about some of the incredible impact donors have made.

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has 5000 staff and 8000 volunteers across 200 branches working across the country. Across the country, volunteers are providing first aid and psychosocial support, transporting people to hospital, providing cash and voucher assistance, helping to reunite families through the Red Cross hotline, and delivering humanitarian aid to shelters, medical facilities, and temporary accommodation for those who are displaced.

The ICRC has been working in Ukraine since 2014, and its operations have been significantly scaled up since the escalation of the international armed conflict in February 2022. The organisation currently has around 750 staff working across various locations in Ukraine, including areas controlled by Ukrainian authorities and areas under Russian control, where they provide emergency relief to displaced people, support health‑care facilities with medicines and equipment, repair water systems, and deliver other essential, life‑saving services.

IFRC through its Country Delegation in Ukraine and supported by its Regional Office for Europe, has been providing technical support to URCS and mobilising international aid to programs and operations led by the National Society.

Donations to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal will help provide emergency relief and longer-term humanitarian support to people and communities affected by this unfolding crisis.

That support may include:

• Humanitarian activities to enable Red Cross and Red Crescent partners to address immediate and longer terms needs in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, including to people who are displaced. This includes emergency relief assistance such as shelter, health, water and sanitation.
  
  
• Specialist aid workers to assist local teams to respond to the crisis
  
  
• Helping people restore contact with family members separated by the crisis by offering services to maintain family links and locate missing family members
  
  
• Monitoring and evaluation of the support

In the unlikely event that the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the emergency needs of people in affected areas, or if there are circumstances beyond Red Cross’ control, excess funds will be directed to our work in international crises.

Our Restoring Family Links team can help people who have lost contact with relatives in Ukraine or Russia due to the current situation. We assess cases, and work through the global Family Links Network to assist people to re-establish contact with family members. Please be aware that because of the evolving situation this may take some time.

Our Restoring Family Links hotline is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (AEST) on 1800 875 199 or via email at tracing@redcross.org.au.

Yes, donations of gifts over $2 are tax deductible in Australia. If you receive a material benefit for your donation then it is not tax deductible: for example, if you receive points or another material benefit from your credit card provider.

You will receive a receipt in your name.

Australian Red Cross will not deduct more than 10 per cent of money raised to cover indirect essential costs such as receipting donations, IT costs, costs to send the money overseas and overheads. Any interest earned on donations will be invested back into the appeal.

We welcome volunteer support, but we can’t send volunteers overseas to help in an emergency or humanitarian crisis. When we need to send people overseas, we have a roster of skilled aid workers with extensive experience in their field, together with previous international experience, and training in how our emergency operations work.  To volunteer with Red Cross in Australia, visit redcross.org.au/volunteer to search volunteer opportunities.     

We really appreciate the generosity, but we are not accepting in-kind donations for food, clothes, medical equipment or other items, as we’re unable to distribute those overseas. There are several good reasons for this. Every item has to be checked, cleaned, sorted, packed, transported, stored and distributed, which hugely increases the cost of the relief effort and diverts from work that may be needed on the ground.

Also, the items donated aren’t always what people need. But cash helps people make dignified choices that are right for them. Even worse, unwanted boxes of donated goods can clog ports and post offices and actually prevent the delivery of essential items like medicines and relief supplies. 

Read more about what might happen when goods are donated after an emergency: Donating clothes or goods after an emergency.

If you have good-quality clothes or household items, our Red Cross Shops would gratefully accept them, to on-sell in Australia and raise funds for our vital work. Find out how you can donate.

We would love to help you answer any questions. Please call 1800 733 276 or email contactus@redcross.org.au. For security reasons, don't include your credit card details in your email.