The war in Ukraine has also deepened the food crisis in East Africa.
More than 29 million euros have been donated to the Finnish Red Cross fundraising in Ukraine, says the Finnish Red Cross (SPR).
To date, the SPR has provided nearly € 8 million in assistance from its disaster fund to the international Red Cross relief operation in Ukraine and the surrounding areas.
The support includes, among other things, a disaster preparedness unit consisting of aid workers and financial and material assistance.
– Our help in the crisis in Ukraine would not be possible without the donors. The desire to help has been really impressive and we would like to warmly thank all those who have participated so far, both donors and volunteers, says SPR’s Director of Fundraising Sirpa Solehmainen in the bulletin.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused great humanitarian distress, and help will be needed in many countries for a very long time, even after the fighting ends one day, the SPR said in a statement.
– Right now, for example, we support the health care of Ukraine and its neighboring areas, as well as provide food, water and shelter for those who have fled their homes. Help is also needed in the long term, as many have lost not only their homes but also their livelihoods, says SPR’s head of international disaster relief. Marko Korhonen in the bulletin.
The war in Europe is deepening the food crisis in Africa
The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the food crisis in East Africa, as the region is highly dependent on wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine. In addition, the drought in East Africa is forecast to be the worst in 40 years.
Due to the worsening crisis, the SPR is preparing to allocate around € 400,000 from its disaster fund to alleviate food shortages in Somalia. The grant is part of a wider humanitarian aid project supported by the European Union.
– Unfortunately, global crises do not take the queue number and wait their turn. That is why the Red Cross is helping several countries at the same time. The food crisis in East Africa is now deepening rapidly. The number of people suffering from food shortages is feared to rise to more than 20 million this year, Korhonen continues in the press release.