Aberdeenshire communities desperate to help Ukraine's stricken families urged to send money rather than goods due to distribution backlogs
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
North-east communities desperate to help Ukraine's stricken families are being urged to send money rather than goods due to distribution backlogs.
Scottish Conservative north-east MSP Tess White met with the British Red Cross which is pressing that cash donations are the quickest and most efficient to support people affected by the Ukraine crisis.
Perishable items, such as food and medicine, could expire before reaching the frontline as a result of the major backlogs.
Ms White has now written to Europe minister Neil Gray asking what improvements the Scottish Government is looking to make around its public messaging on the issue.
She said: “The amazing kindness and generosity shown across the north-east has been heart-warming and I know people want their help to get through.
“One of the best ways to help is by donating cash through the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Appeal, rather than donating goods.
“This will mean nothing goes to waste as money can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed while organisations can use it to buy what is most needed.”
In her letter to Mr Gray, Ms White added: “I understand there is growing concern among charitable organisations involved in humanitarian relief in Ukraine that this message is not reaching the wider public, and that physical donations may not make it to the frontline because they do not have the capacity to get them there or distribute them.
“There is a risk that perishable items, such as food and medicine, will expire before they reach the people who need them.
“As such, I undertook to write to you to find out whether the Scottish Government intends to do any public messaging around this issue to accompany the existing signposting in the Ready Scotland website, either independently or in collaboration with charities and aid agencies?”
Policy and public affairs manager at the British Red Cross Kenneth Watt said: “Donating cash is the quickest, safest and most direct way to support the work of charities supporting people affected.
“Cash is fast and flexible and means we can help with whatever is needed, source things locally, and transport them quickly.
"It also allows volunteers to concentrate on the response, rather than sorting and transporting donations.”
