February 25, 2022

As the fighting intensifies in Ukraine and conflict roils the region, the Red Cross remains committed to assisting those in need. The American Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Ukrainian Red Cross and others are chipping in to help families impacted by the conflict.

Over the past eight years, the hostilities in Ukraine have regularly left towns, villages and rural communities on either side of the line of contact without essential water, gas or power for days or weeks on end. As fighting intensifies, the delivery of key essential services remains a concern. 

Q: Is the Red Cross in Ukraine?
A: The American Red Cross does not have team members in Ukraine. Instead, international Red Cross teams are on the ground in Ukraine delivering urgent assistance — food, fuel for heating, medical supplies and support for housing — to those living close to or on the line of contact (the eastern border of Ukraine with Russia). These team members are from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ukrainian Red Cross.  

Q: How are the international Red Cross teams helping those in need?
A: The combination of cold temperatures, COVID-19 and chronic uncertainty make basic needs in Ukraine a challenge. And for hundreds of thousands of people living in this area, their key needs continue to be water, gas and electricity. So far, the ICRC has helped over 35,000  people to heat their homes and over 37,000 people have received food and hygiene items. The Red Cross has provided water to over 870,000 people.  

Q: How is the American Red Cross helping? 
A: Recently, U.S. military troops deployed to neighboring countries in Europe. In line with our Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) mission, the American Red Cross is deploying specially trained SAF staff to support service members’ emergency communication needs. To be clear, American Red Cross staff are not in Ukraine; they are deployed instead to nearby countries.

Q: Is the American Red Cross doing anything else?
A: Red Crossers are also distributing comfort kits, containing hygiene items and other necessities, to service members and U.S. State Department staff. Red Crossers in this role remain at the ready to assist U.S. service members as the needs in Ukraine may evolve.  

Q: How many American Red Crossers are being deployed?
A: A total of 30 SAF staff will deploy in support of this endeavor. These trained staff members are coming from all over the U.S. and from bases abroad.

Q: Is the Red Cross sending blood products internationally to the Ukraine to help those impacted by the conflict there? 
A: At this time, the American Red Cross is not shipping blood products to Ukraine. The American Red Cross does not ship blood products outside the U.S. without a specific request from the U. S. State Department for U.S. citizens overseas, from the United Nations, or unless we have request from the affected Red Cross or Red Crescent society abroad. Learn more about the Red Cross response to the devastating situation in the Ukraine.

Q: Can I donate blood <platelets or plasma> to help those impacted by the conflict in the Ukraine?
A: No - The American Red Cross does not ship blood products outside the U.S. without a specific request from the U. S. State Department for U.S. citizens overseas, from the United Nations, or unless we have request from the affected Red Cross or Red Crescent society abroad. Learn more about the Red Cross response to the devastating situation in Ukraine.

Q: How can I help provide humanitarian relief in response to the Ukraine crisis? 
A: For those interested in helping provide humanitarian relief in response to the Ukraine crisis, we ask that they write “Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis” in the memo line of a check and mail it to their local Red Cross chapter with the completed donation form at redcross.org/donate.

Q: How can I find out more information?
A: For the latest updates, please visit Ukraine: How the Red Cross is Helping.