PRC donates $50,000 for Ukraine

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross donated $50,000 (P2.6 million) to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society’s response to people affected by the war in Ukraine.

PRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said he wrote to URCS president Mykola Yefremovych to extend the Philippine counterpart’s solidarity with URCS in providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people during the war.

“PRC’s donation was in response to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ emergency appeal. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is currently providing humanitarian assistance to populations displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war,” Gordon said in a statement.

Gordon said the ICRC has so far provided cash assistance to help affected people purchase fuel, food, hygiene products and medical equipment for hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Aside from this, the ICRC also set up water stations in areas where water services were disrupted due to the conflict. They also provided housing repair assistance.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started on Feb. 24.

ICRC president Peter Maurer expressed grave concern for Ukrainian communities. He reiterated that international humanitarian law must be upheld and that civilians and essential services must be protected.