Now that the war in Ukraine has started, the well-known organizations are launching large-scale relief efforts in the Netherlands. For example, the Refugee Foundation and the Red Cross raised 1.5 million euros in one day for aid to Ukraine. There are also Dutch people who feel called to set up something themselves, to demonstrate or to reflect on Ukraine in some other way. A selection of the different actions.
‘My call to help’
“It is my call to help. I am there with my thoughts,” says Angelina Kucheruk from Rotterdam. With her organization “Ukrainian Community in the Netherlands” she has been arranging humanitarian aid for Ukraine for a number of years. In recent days she has been busy collecting medical supplies to be transported to her native country.
Kucheruk’s brother still lives in Ukraine and is going to fight for his country. “The war is very emotional for me,” she says. “I want to do everything here, from the Netherlands, to help. Our organization is of course not as big as the Red Cross, for example, we are small. But that does not matter, we do what we can.”
The 64-year-old Kucheruk receives donations from Dutch organizations, and many apps and other statements of support from Dutch friends. “Everyone sympathizes. It’s a nice feeling that you are not alone.”
Truckers hand out packages
Truck driver Aschwin Cannoo wants to “support” his Ukrainian colleagues in the Netherlands. “I heard that some people can no longer access their money at all. And at the same time they also have family who are there, with whom they can hardly get in touch,” Cannoo says in the statement. NOS Radio 1 News.
He learned about the situation of Ukrainian truck drivers through a friend. “So I thought, wait a minute, those are our colleagues. We have to do something.”
He is organizing an aid campaign in the De Poppe parking lot, near Oldenzaal: food packages with bread, water and oranges are delivered. Cannoo itself provides large meals. “Power foods, such as pasta. Food they can live on for a long time.”
The volunteers hear harrowing stories from the drivers:
–
