Four years later his words ring truer than ever. Speaking then, 1.5 million people had been forced to flee their homes due to years of continued violence in the Donbas region and the annexation of Crimea. Today, this figure has grown due to the intensified military assault launched by Russia on 24 February 2022. Its sustained yearlong invasion of Ukraine has resulted in: more than 13.9 million Ukrainians displaced (31% of the entire population), nearly 8 million Ukrainians recorded as refugees across Europe, with more than 17.6 million people within Ukraine requiring humanitarian assistance.
Street Child launched a public appeal in support of Ukraine just one day after Russia escalated the war, and in the space of 12 months what we’ve been able to achieve is remarkable – especially considering that this time last year we had no presence, projects, or partners in Eastern Europe at all. Our speed and agility meant we were able to quickly identify amazing local partners through our network, and within days were distributing funds in-country so that their life-saving work could continue. The resilience of the Ukrainian people keeps us going.