When the sirens fall silent: An urgent plea for those who have lost everything
As we approach the end of this financial year, I am writing to you not just as the Chair of the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, but as a witness to the profound, unwavering resilience of a people under siege. I am writing with a heart heavy with the reality of their struggle, yet full of gratitude for the lifeline you have provided.
I am constantly humbled by the unwavering loyalty of people like you. For years, you have stood with us. Because of your loyalty, the Ukraine Crisis Appeal remains a volunteer-driven movement, ensuring that your generosity reaches those standing on the precipice of survival. We are not just an organisation; we are a bridge between your compassion and the families who are fighting for their very existence.
Your donations are more than a gift. To a child trembling in a cold, underground metro station, they are a sign that they are not forgotten. To a veteran learning to walk again, they are the promise that they are not alone. To an elderly mother forced to flee her home, they are the reason she can hold onto hope.
In the past week, the brutality of this conflict has sharpened. On the night of 1–2 June, as families tried to find rest, the sky over Ukraine erupted. Russian forces launched an unprecedented barrage of 73 missiles and 656 drones. Imagine, if you can, the terror of over 40,000 people huddled in the darkness of underground stations, children clutching their parents, waiting for the echo of explosions to subside. In those hours of absolute fear, eleven lives were extinguished, and dozens more were shattered.
The scale of this tragedy is immense. Today, 10.8 million people are crying out for humanitarian aid. With 3.7 million souls internally displaced and 2.5 million homes reduced to rubble, the weight of this loss is nearly impossible to bear. Ukraine’s medical system is being systematically dismantled; with 2,000 facilities damaged and 300 turned to ash, the basic right to heal has become a luxury.
Yet, amidst this unrelenting violence, a miracle occurs every morning. People emerge from the shelters. They return to the ruins of their workplaces, they study, they volunteer, and they reach out to comfort one another. Their courage is a testament to the human spirit—and it is a powerful, heart-wrenching reminder of why your support is the only thing standing between them and despair.
Two of our committee members recently returned from Ukraine, having funded their own travel to witness the impact of your support. Their reports are haunting. They described a nation where the persistent, mournful wail of air raid sirens is the soundtrack of daily life. They saw a heartbreaking contrast: the sheer weight of displacement sitting side-by-side with a quiet, fierce defiance—a refusal to let their spirit be extinguished.
Because of donors, we have performed miracles together:
- Healing the wounded: Delivering 11 ambulances to where they are needed most, supported by over $29 million in medical donations-in-kind.
- Essential lifelines: Providing aid to over 1.2 million war-stricken victims.
- Sanctuary: Offering 140,000+ safe shelter placements for those left with nothing.
- Restoring dignity: Rehabilitating hundreds of veterans and providing trauma support to families who have seen too much.
- Bridging the darkness: Delivering water filtration systems and hundreds of power banks to homes stripped of electricity, light, and warmth.
- Fundraising: Over $13.2 million AUD.
The need, however, has never been more desperate. Today, I am asking you to be the light in their darkness. If you are able, please make a donation of any amount. It will change a life – perhaps even save one.
Whether your tax-deductible gift provides trauma counselling for a child who has forgotten how to smile, or funds the prosthetic care that helps a veteran stand tall again, your contribution is the bridge between despair and survival. Your ongoing commitment is the reason we have been able to keep our promise to the people of Ukraine all these years.
The Ukraine Crisis Appeal is privileged to be powered by Rotary Australia World Community Service, ensuring your donation is tax-deductible, and supported by the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations.
Thank you for being the heart of this movement.
We truly could not do this without you.
Diahanna (Darka) Senko, Director, Ukraine Crisis Appeals
Director, Humanitarian and Medical Aid
Mahir Momand, Chief Executive Officer
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Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS)
Address: PO Box 7066, Norwest NSW 2153 Australia