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Tuesday, 12 April 2022

Ukraine: Europe raises over €9 billion for refugees

The international fundraising campaign 'Stand up for Ukraine' has raised a €9.1 billion to support refugees fleeing war in Ukraine and internally displaced people.

The global fundraising campaign 'Stand up for Ukraine' wrapped up on Saturday, April 9. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the closing event in Warsaw that the effort had raised €9.1 billion, including €1 billion pledged by the Commission and an additional one by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The funds raised provided "a little light in this dark hour," von der Leyen said.

"Millions of people in the world saw our courage", said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video at the event in Warsaw.

International support for campaign

The 'Stand up for Ukraine' campaign had received support worldwide from governments, businesses and artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Maneskin.

The resources raised by the campaign, promoted by the European Commission and by Canadian President Justin Trudeau, are in part the outcome of donations by governments and private actors, in part loans and subsidies provided by European financial institutions.

They will be earmarked to assist the internally displaced people and refugees; and the aid is set to be distributed through the Ukrainian government and UN agencies.

Von der Leyen assured that there will be additional funds. "We will continue to provide support", she said.

More than 11 million people fled their homes in Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused an influx of refugees that Europe hasn't seen since World War II. Over 4.5 million refugees have fled Ukraince since the start of the invasion on February 24, according to UN refugee agency UNHCR, and more than 7.1 million people have been displaced.

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