Inverclyde Council will donate £20,000 to the Ukraine humanitarian appeal after councillors voted unanimously in favour of the move.

At a meeting of the local authority’s policy and resources executive sub-committee today (Thursday 10 March 2022), members gave the go-ahead for the five-figure sum to be sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to support their work helping the millions of Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes because of the invasion of their country by Russia.

The DEC Ukraine appeal, which was launched last week, is the latest to be supported by the council and will be funded from reserves. 

It is estimated that 1-2 million people have fled Ukraine as a result of the invasion by Russia and this could rise to four million.

There is now an urgent need for shelter, food, medicine and other support.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council and convener of policy and resources, said: “The situation in Ukraine is horrendous and the vast number of people being forced to flee their country is truly awful.

“As long-time supporters of the DEC and the work they do helping people in crisis, it is only right that we, as a council, continue to do what we can to support their work and support the people of Ukraine who are going through unimaginable turmoil and heartache.

“We stand with Ukraine and I encourage people to donate what they can to the DEC appeal.”

The council has previously donated sums to a number of DEC appeals, including The Ebola Appeal, Nepal Earthquake Appeal, Malawi Food Crisis Appeal, Yemen Crisis Appeal, Cyclone Idai Appeal, Covid Emergency and Afghanistan Appeal.

All have been funded from the council’s contingency fund with donations of either £10,000 or £20,000. To donate to the Ukraine appeal, visit www.dec.org.uk.