FOOD, warm clothing and a place to stay will be given to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion, thanks to a £50,000 grant to the British Red Cross by the Worcestershire Freemasons and other Provinces around the country.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ Charity) and the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) have been monitoring the growing refugee crisis of Ukrainian people forced to flee their homes and country due to the conflict.
The Red Cross teams in neighbouring countries – including Poland, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania – have been providing urgent support to these refugees.
In Poland, where hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have already sought safety, the Polish Red Cross has begun to establish temporary accommodation centres for new arrivals which can hold up to 400 people each.
Similar responses have started in Moldova, where in Chisinau, the Moldovan Red Cross has opened a shelter that can house up to 800 people, and in Slovakia, where the Slovak Red Cross has put up tents to house arrivals at the border crossing point in Ubľa.
Red Cross teams have provided food, hygiene items and warm clothing to those arriving.
Romanian Red Cross volunteers have distributed food, water, basic aid items and hygiene products to people in need.
In Hungary, 300 Red Cross volunteers have helped people crossing the border, preparing parcels containing bedding and hygiene items and establishing information and first aid points.
Worcestershire Freemasons contributed to the grant through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across Englandand Wales.
Luke Tredget, the Red Cross’ head of emergencies, surge and technical advisory, said: “We’re very grateful to the Freemasons for this generous grant which makes a major contribution to the Red Cross relief effort for Ukrainian refugees.
“Most of those fleeing the fighting are women and children who have been queueing on the border in sub-zero temperatures for as long as 60 hours.
“They’re in urgent need of support and the Red Cross has teams on the ground doing everything possible to help.”
Robert Vaughan, head of Worcestershire Freemasons, said he was pleased the branch had been able to help the British Red Cross in its relief effort.
“These poor people are cold, hungry and utterly exhausted and I’m proud that Freemasons are able to assist in providing the support they need.”
