Rochdale's Ukrainians come together for emergency appeal

Ukrainians living in Rochdale are coming together to raise money for an emergency appeal that will provide medical and humanitarian support for millions of vulnerable families if Ukraine is invaded by Russia.

The #HelpUkraine Emergency Appeal has been organised by a partnership of Ukrainian churches, community organisations and youth groups across the UK to provide essential aid to those in Ukraine who will be affected in the event of war.    

The Ukrainian community in Rochdale is well established, with many of their parents and grandparents coming to the UK as refugees after World War Two. Many have family in Ukraine and are deeply concerned for their safety.

Olga Kurtianyk, chair of the Rochdale branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said: “Ukraine has already suffered seven years of conflict, which has killed 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and displaced 1.4 million from their homes. If Russia further invades Ukraine, it will create the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War Two; the elderly, vulnerable, children and families will lose their homes, access to medical and other vital services.”

Ms Kurtianyk continued: “The UK signed the Budapest Memorandum along with the US and Russian Federation in 1994 to respect the Independence, Sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine.

“The UK and US have always strongly supported Ukraine on the international stage and have helped develop its democratic institutions. We appeal to our community friends to donate and help the millions of families in Ukraine facing cold, hunger and violence by the Russian Federation.

“We aim to raise at least £50,000 and more for aid agencies in Ukraine to distribute medical packs, food, blankets and other humanitarian aid for those affected.”

The community’s fears for Ukraine have heightened as Russian president Vladimir Putin has accelerated the movement of military hardware and some 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border.

According to the BBC, Russia is “adamant it has no plans to attack Ukraine” with the country’s foreign intelligence officer Sergei Naryshkin condemning “dangerous lies” spread by the US and Western countries.

But the US says a Russian invasion could happen ‘any day now’ as many Western governments have called on their citizens to leave Ukraine.

Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014 when it annexed Crimea, leading to rising tensions between the two countries.

A statement by the finance ministers of the G7 – an inter-governmental political forum comprised of the UK, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – says the “ongoing Russian military build-up at Ukraine’s borders is a cause for grave concern.”

“Our immediate priority is to support efforts to de-escalate the situation. However, we reiterate that in particular any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will be met with a swift, coordinated and forceful response.

“We are prepared to collectively impose economic and financial sanctions which will have massive and immediate consequences on the Russian economy.

“We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and stand ready to act in a strongly coordinated manner and at very short notice with further economic and financial support for Ukraine.”

The #HelpUkraine appeal has launched with a fundraising page, and donations can also be made at Rochdale Ukrainian Centre, Mere Street, Rochdale OL11 1HJ.