The devastation in Ukraine is ripping seafarers and their families apart. Terrified, desperate, displaced. Homes lost. Lives lost.
We urgently call on the maritime and shipping industry to contribute to this Fund and help seafarers and their families, now and through the crisis. BACS donations preferred (see details below). For donations under £1k there's an option to donate online – please click on Donate Now button on the right.
The Seafarers International Relief Fund, a central charitable Fund to respond to emergencies affecting seafarers and their families, is now supporting seafarers and their families impacted by the humanitarian disaster caused by the crisis in Ukraine.
The environment is chaotic, dangerous, and fast moving. The size, scale and scope of need is both desperate and growing. Ongoing conflict, violence and uncertainty are causing people to flee their homes and become separated from their families. In some areas, water, electricity and phone connectivity have been affected with many people now unable to contact their loved ones at sea.
In addition to our existing and established experts, we have built new contacts to deliver support on the ground in Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Moldova and beyond and we are making new contacts day by day.
For now, the greatest need is basic human welfare – shelter, food, water, transport, access to medical services, along with practical financial help. Support for seafarers and their families will be funded by the Seafarers’ International Relief Fund and delivered by maritime charities, trade unions and other not for profit organisations working in various countries.
The need will change shape and undoubtedly grow as conflict continues and lives, communities, cities and futures, need to be rebuilt. We will work alongside all our partners to understand what is needed, where the gaps are, and how we can best respond.
We are responding to need and ensuring we can deliver support through the Seafarers’ International Relief Fund by providing immediate practical help. As need increases and as clarity is gained we will continue to respond and build a fund for the future – a fund of hope for seafarers and their families.
This devastation will be felt for months and thus the Fund aims to be as responsive as possible to the needs of seafarers and their families impacted by the crisis in Ukraine, wherever they are in the world, in line with the international remits of the charities involved.
This Emergency Appeal is being coordinated by The Seafarers’ Charity and is supported by The Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris, ISWAN, Sailors’ Society, ICMA and other charities and NGOs, working alongside all key industry players who will make a difference to support seafarers and their families impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. Funds raised will be distributed to - appropriate delivery partners operating within country to support seafarers and their families.
The Fund will be administered and overseen at no cost by The Seafarers’ Charity, a grant funder which has embedded and well-established governance mechanisms and processes for monitoring and evaluation to ensure efficiency and transparency. All donors will receive a copy of the impact report produced at the end of the year to show where the funds have been spent.
The Seafarers International Relief Fund successfully delivered over $1.1M of humanitarian aid during Covid19. We are using similar skills to get urgent need to seafarers and families affected by the Ukraine Crisis.
