Canada, EU set joint funds effort for Ukraine refugees

AFP , Saturday 26 Mar 2022

Canada and the European Commission on Saturday announced plans to launch a joint fund-raising effort to help Ukrainian refugees, with the effort culminating in an April 9 donors conference.

Refugees
Refugees wait for transport after fleeing the war from neighbouring Ukraine at the border crossing in Medyka, southeastern Poland, on Saturday, March 26, 2022. AP

The statement was co-signed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. The two will co-host the donors conference.

They said they were responding to a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has promoted an online "Stand Up for Ukraine" rally for April 9.

"I'm inviting everybody: musicians, actors, athletes, businessmen, politicians, everybody," Zelensky said earlier.

Nearly 3.8 million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian army invaded on February 24, according to the United Nations, with Poland taking in the lion's share.

The UN estimates that 6.5 million others have been displaced within the country -- meaning roughly one in four Ukrainians has been driven from his or her home.

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