b'Soroptimist InternationalReport for the High-Level Political Forum UKRAINE & SURROUNDING COUNTRIESHumanitarian Relief and Support for Refugees Following the escalation of Russo-Ukrainian war on 24 thFebruary 2022, Soroptimists across the world rallied to help those in Europe supporting the millions of refugees who fled the conflict. ThroughProjectMatchingToolandtheDisasterRecoveryFundresourcesarecollectedand distributedtoSoroptimistprojectsinEurope.ThroughtheglobalSoroptimistnetworkover 300,000hasbeenraisedsofardirectlytotheprojectswithintheWarZoneinitiative.The collection of cash donations, through approaches like the Disaster Recovery Fund, is critical in allowing those on-the-ground to funnel resources to where they are needed most. With over 6.6 million people needing quick support,partnershipwithNehemia,anorganisationSI SoroptimistClubsinEuropeleaptintoaction,Uzhhorod worked with in 2014. Using the global SI starting projects in Ukraine itself, Poland, Moldova,network,SIUzhhorodhasraisedfundsandused Romania,Slovakia,HungaryandPortugal,amongthemtobuyprovisionsincludingmattresses, others. bedding, medication, and hygiene products. In Uzhhorod Ukraine, Soroptimists cared for manyInPoland,Soroptimistsacrossthecountryhave Ukrainiansmakingthedifficultdecisiontoleavemobilised to support the millions of refugees who theircountry.Withasteadystreamofrefugees,have arrived. SI Gdynia is currently running a nine-Soroptimists in Uzhhorod provide shelter, food andweekPolishcourseforUkrainianwomenfunded essentials to their fellow Ukrainians before the crossthroughprojectmatching.Beingableto the border into Slovakia. Some have had refugeescommunicate in Polish will help women arriving in stayingintheirownhouses.AswellashostingPolandtosettle,findwork,accessservicesand refugees, a shelter is being established for womenrebuild their lives.and children fleeing the conflict, as many internally displaced people have gone to the west of UkraineSI Wratislava has also organised language courses, as a place of relative safety. This work was done insofarbenefittingover100women,aswellas SDG 4SDG 5SDG 17 Education empowersProviding women & girls withMobilising a global civil women & girls wheresafe places, and protectingsociety network 1117 they now call home.them from violence.'