Steph Deschamps / April 10, 2022
An international fundraising campaign has raised 10.1 billion euros to support Ukraine, invaded by the Russian army on February 24, announced Saturday the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Warsaw.
The world finally pledged €9.1 billion as part of the Stand up for Ukraine campaign. In addition, the Commission, together with the EBRD, is adding another billion for displaced people in Ukraine. This is fantastic. So 10.1 billion euros, said von der Leyen.
For its part, Belgium has released 800 million euros to support Ukraine and its refugees, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced on Twitter. As we speak, more Belgian trucks are on the road to bring medical and food aid to Ukraine. We will continue our efforts as long as necessary, De Croo added in a video posted on the social network, where he deplored the inhumanity of Russian strikes that destroyed homes and hospitals, separated families and condemned war crimes and rapes perpetrated by Russian soldiers.
The campaign was launched on February 26 by Ms. von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It has mobilized governments, institutions, artists, companies and individuals from around the world, the Commission says on its website.
Artists such as Elton John, Alanis Morrissette, Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox and Chris Rock have joined the campaign alongside world leaders who have pledged on behalf of their countries to raise billions of dollars to help Ukrainian refugees.
Once the bombs stop falling, we will help the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country. We will continue to defend Ukraine, concluded the President of the European Commission.
In a video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West to impose more sanctions on Russian banks and stop buying Russian oil. Ukrainian courage has already united the entire democratic world, he said.
More than 4.3 million Ukrainians have left their country since the Russian invasion on February 24, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The UN estimates that there are 7.1 million internally displaced people in the country. The conference was held in Poland, the country bordering Ukraine that hosts the largest number of Ukrainian refugees. More than 2.5 million of them have crossed the 500-kilometer border with Poland.