Australian Volunteers For Ukrainian Refugees

Putin is carrying out a genocidal war of extermination in Ukraine right now. He's clearly told the world that he does not recognise Ukraine's right to exist as a sovereign nation-state and culture, and so he is now bombing hospitals, schools, and civilian areas indiscriminately to terrify the world into submission. With more than one million Ukrainian civilians forced to flee their homes already and UN projections putting future refugee numbers at up to five million, this is already shaping up as one of the worst humanitarian crises of our times.

Like most other Australians, I've been deeply moved by the events in Ukraine and I want to do more than just Tweet about what's happening. Solidarity is important, but talk is cheap while Putin bombs playgrounds and kindergartens. Ukraine is now the new front line in the global battle for democracy against dictatorship. Having spent the past three years of my life campaigning against the Chinese dictatorship's human rights abuses and aggressive threats to invade neighbouring countries, I fear Putin's invasion of Ukraine confirms all our worst fears about the global march of autocracy and imperialism. This is where we must make a stand for democracy and justice, so I am travelling to Poland with a small team including Hong Konger Australian human rights activist Max Mok and a Ukrainian translator friend to support Ukrainian refugees in a humanitarian capacity.

We've already reached out to both Caritas Internationalis in Austria and Poland as well as a group of dedicated drivers helping transport Ukrainian refugees to safety. We aim to volunteer for Caritas while also renting a car to drive Ukrainian refugees from the border into Poland and Germany. There are thousands of stranded Ukrainians right now so we think this can be a good concrete way to help on the ground. We will be staying at a monastery near the border and we will live as austerely as possible while over there so as to ensure the funds we raise go to those who need it. This GoFundMe will pay for medicine for Ukrainian refugees, our economy flight tickets to Poland, car-rental and fuel expenses while in Europe. We will not use funds in a personal capacity beyond that which is required to get to Europe and support ourselves in as basic conditions as possible while volunteering.

As always, we will provide receipts to confirm spending. Thank you and God bless