Millions of people in Ukraine are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Ukraine as attacks of war put millions of lives at risk. Families fleeing violence are in urgent need of water, food, hygiene kits, and clothing. Fortunately, Simply the Basics is able to respond to one of these very important needs by providing support in the form of hygiene care to our partners on the ground!

People that are fleeing for safety will often be waiting in queues for 3-4 days at a time without access to their basic needs, including infant care, menstrual care, and other hygiene necessities for safety, health, and comfort.

In partnership with People in Need and the Red Cross, Simply the Basics aims to reach 1,000 people with emergency assistance by raising funds on our Hygiene Market – particularly the families, children, and the elderly who are likely to suffer the most by this crisis.

Simply the Basics has worked with the Red Cross through a number of disasters, both locally as well as internationally, and are coordinating with them to ensure that they have hygiene supplies available for refugees as they travel and arrive in safer locations. The international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is setting up a logistics hub in Budapest to bring aid supplies to Ukraine following Russia's invasion, and is making preparations for an influx of refugees.

"We are preparing a really big operation," said Christof Johnen, head of international cooperation at the German Red Cross. U.N. aid agencies said Russia's invasion could drive up to 5 million people to flee abroad.

People in Need is building facilities for the millions of people, providing food, hygiene supplies, and therapy assistance, mainly on the border with Slovakia. At the crossings with Moldova and Romania, it supports and coordinates local NGOs that help refugees on their arduous journey. Humanitarian workers in Ukraine near Velky Berezny—where the situation is critical— have built facilities for people waiting for border control.

In the eastern Slovak village of Vyšné Nemecké, there are also toilets and a large heated tent with a capacity of up to 200 people where refugees can rest or sleep. They receive food, drink, hygiene items and charged SIM cards.

This is where you come in!

All funds raised on the Simply the Basics Hygiene Market from now until March 21st, will be used to provide support to these organizations providing hygiene and necessities to people on the ground in Ukraine. We will use the funds raised to send supplies directly to the refugee areas where possible, and donated support to help them establish their necessary services where supplies cannot be shipped directly.

Please purchase hygiene supplies on our Hygiene Market until March 21 - or make a monetary donation below to support our Ukraine Emergency Fund!