Which Irish charities are running fundraising appeals for Ukraine?

Irish public donate millions of euro and offer spare accommodation to Ukrainians

People in Ireland have donated more than €16 million to charities providing humanitarian aid to those displaced by the war in Ukraine. Photograph: iStock
People in Ireland have donated more than €16 million to charities providing humanitarian aid to those displaced by the war in Ukraine. Photograph: iStock

People in Ireland have donated more than €16 million to charities providing humanitarian aid to those displaced by the war in Ukraine, as well as emergency supplies and offers to accommodate refugees in spare rooms and homes.

Aid organisations have asked the public to donate money, rather than supplies, due to logistical difficulties transporting and storing items in the region. So which charities are running fundraising appeals, and what will donations be spent on?

The Irish Red Cross has raised more than €12 million in donations to help the people of Ukraine and refugees from the conflict. The funds will go to Red Cross organisations in the region that are providing humanitarian support. donate.redcross.ie

The charity has received more than 2,400 pledges of accommodation from Irish people to house Ukrainians in spare rooms or vacant homes. Up to 100,000 refugees are expected to arrive in the State in the coming weeks and months. An online "register of pledges" to help accommodate the large number of refugees is being supported by the Department of Children and Equality. registerofpledges.redcross.ie

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Unicef Ireland has raised just less than €4 million in donations for Ukraine to provide aid in conflict zones and along the country's borders.

The organisation is trucking safe water into areas affected by the conflict, as well as health and hygiene supplies. It has set up "Blue Dot" safe spaces to provide information and supports to mothers and children fleeing the conflict as they cross into Poland, Moldova, Romania and Belarus. unicef.ie/donate/ukraine/#1

Several Irish international aid charities are collecting donations for humanitarian aid to Ukraine under an umbrella group, Irish Emergency Alliance.

The group includes Trócaire, Action Aid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Self Help Africa, Tearfund and World Vision Ireland.

It is raising funds to provide urgent supplies, shelter and healthcare to people in Ukraine and refugees in Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, through local partners in those countries. irishemergencyalliance.org/donate

Irish aid charity Goal is running an emergency appeal to fund kits containing food, clean water, cooking supplies, sanitary products and nappies, as well as blankets and first aid. goalglobal.org/donate/

Concern Worldwide has launched a similar fundraising appeal for donations to provide immediate humanitarian support. Concern has raised €250,000 in the first week of its appeal, with an aim to hit €2.5 million in donations from Ireland in total. concern.net/donate/ukraine-crisis-appeal

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has stepped up efforts to provide protection to those fleeing the conflict, sending extra staff, stockpiles of supplies and resources to the region. The agency is seeking to help those who are particularly vulnerable, such as children travelling alone and people with disabilities. Donate.unhcr.org

Misean Cara, an Irish charity that supports missionaries working overseas, has started a fundraising appeal to support work in Ukraine and along its border. The organisation has also put aside €100,000 of its public funding from Irish Aid to go towards the emergency response in Ukraine. miseancara.ie/donate/

The Irish Refugee Council is providing help to Ukrainians seeking to flee the war and come to Ireland. The organisation has hired additional staff, including Ukrainian and Russian speakers, to respond to a large volume of calls and messages seeking information and guidance. irishrefugeecouncil.ie/Appeal/support-refugees-from-ukraine

A Co Limerick migrant rights charity, Doras, is raising funds and compiling offers from people willing to help support refugees coming to Ireland, to provide accommodation as well as travel and language support. doras.org/ukraine-appeal/

Oxfam Ireland is asking for donations to help the aid charity scale up its campaigning work, to help those forced to flee the conflict "find safe passage and refuge". donate.oxfamireland.org/euro-ukraine/~my-donation

Jack Power

Jack Power

Jack Power is acting Europe Correspondent of The Irish Times