Canada and the European Union (EU) announced on Saturday the launch of an international fundraiser for Ukrainian refugees, which will culminate on April 9 with a “donors’ conference” organized jointly by Brussels and Ottawa.
“The Act for Ukraine campaign seeks to mobilize governments, institutions, artists, businesses and individuals to allocate funds to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and neighboring countries,” the Prime Minister’s Office explained. Canadian, Justin Trudeau , in a press release co-signed by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Ms. von der Leyen and Mr. Trudeau said they were responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ‘s call for “on April 9, a large rally […] on social media to support those who have been forced to flee Ukraine”.
The initiative of the European Commission and the Canadian government is carried out in partnership with the NGO Global Citizen.
It will “highlight a donors’ conference organized on April 9 by the President of the European Commission, Ms von der Leyen, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which will aim to raise funds and to mobilize wider support” for Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons.
Nearly 3.8 million people have fled Ukraine, mostly for Poland, since the invasion of the Russian army on February 24, according to the UN, which estimates the number of displaced people at almost 6.5 million. inside Ukraine.
In total, more than ten million people, more than a quarter of the population, had to leave their homes.