The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that 1,123 civilian casualties in Ukraine have been verified: 364 killed, including 25 children, and 759 injured as of Sunday, March 6. They believe this number to be an underrepresentation of civilian deaths in Ukraine that are increasingly becoming direct targets of Russian aggression.

A number of cities in Ukraine have been cut off from electricity, water supply and supply chains delivering essential medical supplies and food. The humanitarian disaster in Ukraine grows by the hour, creating the fastest growing humanitarian crisis Europe has seen since World War II, with over 1.5 million people that have already left.

The Government of Canada matched (as of March 1 the match is fulfilled) donations to Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine appeal of $10 million. Historically in wars, Red Cross supports prisoners of war, ensuring international codes of conduct, providing letters and food parcels.

Here’s Canadian Red Cross’s appeal statement:

“Money raised will enable Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to respond to humanitarian needs generated by almost eight years of conflict, as well as preparedness and response efforts due to heightened tensions in Ukraine. The support could include preparedness, immediate and ongoing relief efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency, and other critical humanitarian activities as needs arise, both in Ukraine and surrounding countries, including supporting populations displaced."

This is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink statement – the money can go to pretty much anything over any time frame.

We demand the following from the Canadian Red Cross:

• Immediate deployment of financial resources and humanitarian aid to Ukraine to assist civilians with limited supply of life's necessities;
• Immediate release of clear details of spending and a plan to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine on continues basis, and a plan to facilitate internally displaced people and refugees feeling the country;
• Immediate cessation on the part of the Canadian Red Cross in calling the war of Russian aggression a “conflict” in Ukraine.

On February 23 Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the following statement:
 
“Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s egregious attack on Ukraine. These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are also in violation of Russia’s obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”
 
The Government of Canada and Canadians condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and call in for what it is. Why then are our taxpayer dollars being given to an organization that does not echo this sentiment, let alone give us a clear roadmap to how this money will help alleviate the growing humanitarian disaster in Ukraine?
 
This must change. The Canadian Red Cross must SEND AID TO UKRAINE NOW!