Britons have donated more than £100m to provide aid to Ukrainians fleeing the war after an appeal was launched by the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
The total includes “generous” donations from the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, as well as hundreds of thousands of members of the public.
The Ukraine appeal was set up on Thursday by the DEC, which brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas.
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The amount raised is equivalent to more than £1m per hour.
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The DEC said the funds are already being used by charities in Ukraine and at its borders to give people food, water, medical assistance, protection and trauma care.
‘Amazing show of support’
“This amazing show of support for people fleeing the conflict has meant that we have been able to start spending money straight away to help more people,” said Jo Kitterick, head of supporter engagement at the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, one of the charities involved.
“I want to thank everyone who has donated to help us support them in their moment of greatest need,” she added.
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Ukrainian refugees head to Europe
She said the charities are setting up safe centres with beds, food and washing facilities inside Ukraine and on its borders.
Transport, information, psychological support and child-friendly spaces are also being provided.
The DEC has stressed that monetary donations are needed as opposed to specific items, which are often challenging to transport and not always relevant.
Read more:
How you can support people caught up in conflict and those trying to flee
Where are Ukrainian refugees going?
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Refugees flee to Romania
£10m raised in Scotland
The donations include £25m contributed by the UK government in match-funding – the largest commitment ever made to a DEC appeal through the UK aid match scheme.
In Scotland, £10m has been raised so far.
Celebrities that have raised awareness about the fundraiser include Trigger Point actor Adrian Lester, Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, Hot Fuzz actor Simon Pegg, Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville and Doctor Who star David Tennant.
The number of Ukrainian refugees is expected to keep rising, with more than 1.5 million having already left their country, according to the UN.
The UN said the figure could grow to four million, calling it the fastest-growing refugee crisis since the second world war.
Other charities accepting donations to help Ukrainians include Choose Love, UNICEF and Global Giving.
