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UKRAINE: Three Years of War, 1100+ days of humanitarian crisis! | |
Dear supporter of Hope and Aid Direct, So pleased it's finally March as warmer months will be kinder to refugees and those living without shelter in freezing conditions. We have had a record-breaking number of blankets knitted and delivered in 2024, far too many to count (although I am sure that both Chas and Roddy could have very close guess) and hope we can continue supplying warmth and shelter in 2025 to those most in need. It’s good to see that Ukraine has taken the spotlight in the news again, driven by the potential peace talks, The White House shenanigans and the recent three-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We hope this will be the last commemoration of the conflict with the end of the war in near sight. | |
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USAid Freeze, UK development aid cuts and its impact on charities. | |
It was a huge blow seeing USAid funding being frozen in January, following the start of Trump’s Administration. Such devastating news carries huge implications for charities worldwide. As a smaller charity ourselves, we rely on the large non-government organisations (NGOs) being available in the areas of crisis – they have the means, the contacts and the staffing to open doors to incoming foreign aid, enabling us to supply food, hygiene, shelter and other necessary aid items for survival of the most vulnerable. The UK decision to move money from the overseas aid budget to defence spending is equally worrying. To many of the general public, the overseas aid budget is seen as the UK sending money overseas rather than helping people at home. It could therefore been seen as a politically astute decision to make, given the relationship that we are hoping to build with the current US president. From a security point of view, it's very naïve. The complex and interconnected reality of the aid and military world means that when spend on arms increases, then the spend on aid also needs to increase, the two have a symbiotic relationship. The UK and the US are two of the largest aid providers in the world and this reduction in aid spending will not only have a huge impact on some of the most vulnerable people in the world, but it will provide space for other actors to step into, countries such as Russia and China, who will now be able to have a far greater influence on policy within these countries. The implication of cuts will make countries less secure, more prone to extremism and conflict and therefore more liable for migration. | |
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Implications for small charities | |
For charities such as Hope and Aid Direct that rely on individual donations rather than grants, this problem is compounded by the cost of living crisis where everyone has less available income for donations and also in an environment where there are many crises around the world that dominate news headlines and result in donations going to the latest disaster or atrocity. We of course continue to try and push for donations, particularly recurring monthly donations that have a huge value to us. Thank you for your continued support. Given this, an essential part of our aid now comes from organisations, who are able to donate bulk aid as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility policies. We're always looking for more partners to work with and if you have any business connections willing to help, please get in touch with us. The impacts of the cuts however, have so far not reached us and we continue to successfully supply the people of Ukraine with crucial items to fulfil not just the basic needs, but also to support Ukraine’s emergency services. Our recent distribution included work boots, mobility aids and hospital supplies, all of which are too costly or not possible to purchase in a country broken by conflict. | |
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Braving the Blazes: Fire Extinguishers & Winter Aid Delivered to War-Torn Kherson! |
A port city in Southern Ukraine and the administrative centre of Kherson Oblast, Kherson is located by the Black Sea. The area is sadly a target of daily Russian strikes which sees buildings destroyed with many casualties. Our recent Frantic delivery saw fire extinguishers supplied to the emergency services to continue their rescue work in residential areas affected by fires from the bombs. Blankets and other winter necessities were also delivered to Kherson’s residents as well as the surrounding villages. Can you help us continue our supply to the fire services in Ukraine? We’d love to hear from you – email us at roger@hopeandaiddirect.org.uk | | | |
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Welcome Emma, our newest volunteer! |
It’s always a real pleasure to welcome a new volunteer, especially to our core team. Emma joins us with a huge amount of experience in graphic design and website development, providing a general creative flair and fresh perspective on our marketing collateral. Emma has worked as a creative designer for the last 18 years specialising in the marketing sector and working for a variety of in-house companies and agencies. She continues to grow and thrive in her field keeping up to date with latest design and web trends and absolutely loves what she does. A firm believer in giving back to important causes and helping those in need is a quality she holds close to her. | | | |
Emma will be working closely with Rose Media Group to support our PR and Marketing campaigns and we are extremely excited about the future prospects of the charity now that Emma's part of the team. Welcome! | |
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Sometimes, our hearts melt! The recent receipt of a package so carefully wrapped, sorted by items and lovingly posted to us for children in Ukraine was a wonderful surprise. Thank you to the anonymous family that took the care to post these to us, we are happy to report they have been dispatched to families in Kherson. If you and your children would like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email at roger@hopeandaiddirect.org.uk | | | |
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Saturday 8th March saw the world celebrating women! IWD has been around for a hundred years and we are more than happy to get involved. Although we are not taking sides and deliver aid to everyone around the world, the day offered us a moment of appreciation to the HaAD female super power - we celebrate every single one of you, on International Women's Day, today and every day. Thank you for all that you do! | |
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Keep safe and don't forget to hit the follow button on our socials for more updates!
Love from Chas, Roger and Mark
Hope and Aid Direct Trustees | |
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