Canada to match up to $10 million in donations from Canadians in response to humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

Canada is deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced that Canada will match every donation made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross between February 24, 2022, and March 18, 2022, up to a maximum of $10 million.

The generosity of Canadians when a crisis strikes is always remarkable, and their efforts in times of need make a difference. This matching funding reinforces Canada’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine. This funding is in addition to the $50 million in funding for development and humanitarian aid that Canada has recently announced and the $620 million in sovereign loans that Canada has recently offered Ukraine.

Global Affairs Canada will match every donation made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. The Canadian Red Cross will in turn allocate the total amount of funding to support the efforts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, other national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, in responding to the humanitarian needs caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These critical funds will allow the Red Cross to support immediate and ongoing relief efforts and other critical humanitarian activities, both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries, including support for populations that have been displaced.

In 2021, according to the United Nations Financial Tracking Service, Canada ranked as the 4th largest single-country donor of humanitarian assistance funding to Ukraine.

Canada will remain in close contact with humanitarian partners on the ground to determine the best way to respond to this crisis.

Quotes

“The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine requires all of us to come together. That is why we are supporting Canadians who are already showing their support for Ukraine by donating to the Canadian Red Cross by matching their donations, dollar for dollar. We know we have more to do to support people affected by the conflict in Ukraine.”

– Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

Quick facts

• Canadians who would like to donate to the matching fund for the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal can do so online or by calling 1-800-418-1111.
• In addition to this matching fund, Canada has provided over $64 million in humanitarian assistance since the onset of the crisis in Ukraine in 2014.
• On January 21, 2022, Canada announced that it had offered a loan of up to $120 million to the Government of Ukraine to support the country’s economic resilience and governance reforms. Canada has also offered a technical assistance grant of up to $6 million to support the implementation of this loan.
• On February 14, 2022, Canada announced that it would offer a loan of up to $500 million to the Government of Ukraine through the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act.
• Canada has provided over $250 million in bilateral development assistance to Ukraine since 2014.