June 28, 2022 — Urgently needed aid is reaching Ukrainians both in Poland and within their own country thanks to the combined efforts of the Corus family of organizations. Medical supplies, emergency cash, funding for shelter and more assistance is supporting thousands of Ukrainian families who fled their homes when war started in February.
Corus has committed more than $12 million to respond to this crisis, and we will expand our response to reach more Ukrainians as we secure additional funding. We have deployed technical staff to support our relief operations, including program managers, a health advisor, and an advisor to lead our efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse in Ukraine and for Ukrainian refugees. Through a partnership with the UN’s refugee agency and Lutheran World Federation, some of these funds were allocated for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Starting in May 2022, these refugees registered for codes to withdraw cash grants from Polish ATMs.
For this response, we are bringing together expertise from our Corus organizations IMA World Health, Lutheran World Relief and CGA Technologies.
Protection and supplies for Ukrainians in crisis
To protect vulnerable Ukrainian refugees from traffickers and sexual violence, trained staff at these cash grant sites are directing refugee women to support services if they have faced sexual abuse.
To help those who fled their homes but are still in Ukraine, Corus is partnering with the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine to fund shelter, food and basic medical supplies at centers hosting displaced families. In May and June 2022, kits with personal care items, quilts, and school supplies were distributed at five of these centers.
Corus also shipped medical supplies to a hospital in Chernihiv, Ukraine. The shipment, which includes surgical and wound care kits, gauze, IV kits, oxygen masks, defibrillators and stretchers, will help health workers care for some 7,500 patients.
Responding to medical needs in Ukraine
Within Ukraine, Corus staff are identifying key gaps in the availability of health services. Their assessment will inform an ongoing response in Ukraine, which may include mobile clinics and mental health services.
Corus will continue to respond to the immediate and long-term needs of Ukrainians, as well as to people in countries facing the ripple effects caused by the war, including surging prices in staple food and fuel.
"At this incredible time in history, an outpouring of compassion and support from American donors has given us the ability to help Ukrainian families,” says Daniel Speckhard, President and CEO of Corus International. “The needs are great, but the response has been great as well.”