Plea not to forget about Ukraine as donations drop

A charity that provides aid to Ukraine has warned of "donor fatigue".

UK Aid, based in Dunmow, Essex, said it had noticed a decline in donations as the war in Ukraine continues, while financial pressures remain in the UK.

It makes three trips a year to Chernihiv, an area of the country which has been routinely bombarded by Russian forces over the last two-and-a-half years.

Svetlana Ryzhevska, who works for the centre and fled to the UK two years ago, said: "The need never reduces, they keep attacking us. People keep suffering."

The charity, set up in 2001, partners with the Revival centre in Chernihiv, and was originally started to help people affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

The centre helps with rehabilitation for disabled children and victims of war.

Volunteers said people in Ukraine were still in need of food and medical supplies.

Barbara Honeyman, a volunteer, said: "Imagine your house gets bombed, you lose everything, you need everything.

"Also, we’ve got frontline military hospitals, ordinary hospitals, maternity, everything."

Ms Ryzhevska was forced to flee to the UK with her family and said the need was still as great as it was in 2022.

She said: "We are very grateful the UK is standing with us and is helping our people to survive."

Alan Hilliar has urged people not to forget about Ukraine

The charity sends three consignments of aid to Ukraine every year but UK-Aid co-founder Alan Hilliar said he had noticed a decrease in donations.

He said: "We are struggling in most areas, yes there’s donor fatigue, but also there’s lots of other issues with people unable to give, because that’s the important thing - people are struggling here."

He said donations of food, toiletries and money were still critical.

Having worked in the region for so long, he said it had been "heartbreaking" to see the devastation.

"Almost everyone I know has lost someone."

He said he felt Ukraine was "dropping down the list" and urged people not to "forget about Ukraine".

"We can get it out there but we just need your help."