(Warsaw) An international fundraiser raised 10.1 billion euros (13.8 billion Canadian dollars) to support Ukraine that was invaded by the Russian army, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Posted at 11:38 a.m.
Updated at 1:40 PM.
The “Stand up for Ukraine” campaign, organized by the European Union, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the international organization Global Citizen, aimed to raise funds for Ukrainian IDPs and refugees.
Artists such as Elton John, Alanis Morissette, Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox and Chris Rock joined the campaign alongside world leaders who pledged on behalf of their countries to mobilize billions of dollars.
“We are devastated to see the suffering of the people of Ukraine,” Elton John said on Facebook.
The 75-year-old pop legend called on his fans to “help people whose lives have been turned upside down and who have given up everything for a safer life.”
“No one should have gone through this kind of tragedy,” Elton John added.
Mme Von der Leyen described the event receipts as “fantastic” at a conference in Warsaw on Saturday.
The world has finally pledged €9.1 billion as part of the campaign […] In addition, the Commission, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is adding another billion for the displaced in Ukraine. that’s cool. 10.1 billion euros,” said Mme Von der Leyen.
She said that of the amount promised by the European Commission, 600 million will go to the Ukrainian authorities and 400 million to “border countries that are doing an amazing job helping refugees.”
In her words, other money will “come” to add to it.
As part of the group, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on its website a €4 billion program aimed at helping European cities and regions meet “urgent investment needs and address challenges related to the reception and integration of war refugees from Ukraine”.
“The solidarity of countries, companies and people around the world is giving some light in this dark hour,” El-Sayed said.me Von der Leyen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke via video message.
“Ukrainian courage has already united the entire democratic world,” he said, calling on the West to impose more sanctions on Russian banks and stop buying Russian oil.
More than 4.4 million Ukrainians have left their country since the Russian invasion on February 24, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The United Nations estimates the number of internally displaced people at 7.1 million.
