The war in Ukraine has aroused great commitment and several new aid organizations have been formed, also in Sweden. One of them is Operation Aid, an organization made up of unpaid volunteers.
In a debate article on Sunday, they refer to Call Fakta’s review of UNHCR and wondering where the major aid organizations are located and what help they actually provide in Ukraine.
– I think it’s a bit strange, considering how much this war has engaged the Western world anyway. Enormous sums of money seem to have been donated, but we don’t see this anyway. You must still be able to say that, says Ludvig Ramestam, Operation Aid volunteer.
SEK 1.7 billion
Historically, a lot of money has been donated to Ukraine.
UNHCR alone has received over 1.7 billion kroner from Sweden and states themselves that over 4 million people have been reached by the aid, but is thus criticized for not being visible on the ground in the areas where people are most vulnerable.
– These are very vulnerable areas and you have to have a little more resources to go out here. And as I said, there are resources in the world to be able to do that, says Elly Reynolds, Operation Aid volunteer.
UNHCR has declined to comment on the criticism, but writes in a statement that they have been on the ground in Ukraine since February 2022 and that many of those who have received help live on the front lines of the war.
In the player above: The TV4 News team accompanies Operation Aid during an aid operation in the Kherson region.