Every day, families who have been forced to leave their homes arrive at evacuation centres in Ukraine in search of safety. As part of its Mother’s Day campaign, the Estonian Refugee Council is raising funds to support the work of these centres. Donations help provide essential assistance to arriving families and keep children’s spaces running – offering support and a sense of safety in difficult circumstances.
“While many Ukrainians fled their homes at the start of the full-scale war, evacuations have continued throughout the four years of conflict and persist to this day. People’s movements depend directly on the security situation and are constantly changing. Millions have been forced to leave their homes, many of them more than once. This shows that the need for assistance and support has not diminished, but remains very high,” said Eero Janson, Director of the Estonian Refugee Council. He added that for families forced to flee, evacuation centres are often the first stop, with only a few belongings in hand.
At evacuation centres, families receive temporary shelter and initial support. In addition to basic necessities such as food, accommodation and hygiene items, it is essential that there are dedicated spaces for children – places where they can play, rest and briefly forget the situation around them. These child-friendly spaces help ease stress and support both children and their parents in regaining a sense of safety.
However, many centres still lack essential items for families and children, including bedding, hygiene supplies, toys and materials for creative activities – all of which are vital for providing basic support and creating a safe environment.
As part of the campaign, which runs until Monday, 11 May, donations can help provide mothers and children fleeing the war with safe and dignified temporary shelter.
Every contribution helps support those who have been forced to leave their homes. Donate to help ensure every child has a safe place.
Make a donation at www.pagulasabi.ee/anneta or call 900 3803 – €15.
Campaign visuals created using photos by Delfi photographers Kiur Kaasik and Rauno Volmar.
The Estonian Refugee Council has been supporting people affected by the war in Ukraine since 2014, adapting its activities to the changing situation and people’s needs. The organisation provides needs-based humanitarian assistance in crisis areas and supports long-term recovery through entrepreneurship programmes and agricultural support.