Help For My Family in Mariupol, Ukraine

UPDATE

There has been unbelievable support from so many of you... Unfortunately, my brother is still in Ukraine fighting his cancer with chemo rounds. First, we couldn't get the papers he needed to get organized to leave ready, and now he is undergoing cycles of chemo and feeling unwell to travel. Any donations to his campaign go straight to him to help with his growing chemo costs. As he cannot work or get any other local support, he relies on the kindness of others to help him through it all. It is a crazy tough time for everyone. We appreciate every single one of you who has helped us since the start of the campaign and continues to stand by our family.

Friends,

Since the start of the war in Ukraine on the 24th of Feb, most of you have been following the story of my family who are still in Mariupol.

I have not heard from my dad, who is quite sick, since then.

My brother’s house was destroyed by shelling in the early days, his car was shot at as he was trying to move his family to a safer place 15 days ago. I have not talked to him since then as there is no mobile reception.

The whole city of 400k people have been blockaded since 1st of March and bombarded from air non-stop. On the 14th March, more than 100 bombs were dropped on Mariupol. Reportedly, at least 2500 civilians including children and women have died there, and the actual toll is expected to be much higher.

Humanitarian corridors organized by the Red Cross and local authorities were all unsuccessful as convoy have been attacked every single day since they started trying to bring help to Mariupol.

I keep hoping that my family is fighting and surviving without water, gas, electricity, heating, food in subzero temperatures.

My close and extended family as well as my lifelong friends, schoolmates and their families have all lost everything – their homes, incomes, some lost loved ones.

Initially, I thought I would be able to help them all myself and resisted crowdfunding.

All my asks for help so far were addressed to supporting the amazing organizations on the ground like Red Cross.

But seeing the level of destruction in Mariupol day after day, the hope that my loved ones will be able to return to their places is not there anymore. They will need to start from zero again, traumatized and physically exhausted.

I remember, when I was 7 we had to flee the war in Georgia. We came to Ukraine without anything, my family lost everything in Georgia, and we struggled so much to get back on our feet.

Today, I so hope that my plea to all of you could help my closest people on Earth – my Brother and his family, my Dad, Mum, Aunty and their immediate families by directly distributing the funds to them so when they are able to, they can use the money to rent a place to stay, buy food and clothes, buy tickets, pay for transportation, medicine and anything else they might need.

I am running this campaign to help my family - 16 of them. But help doesn’t stop there. Helping them creates a massive ripple effect – think of all the people in their care, their families and friends.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Details about fundraiser

Where you're from - I was born and raised in Mariupol, Ukraine. I currently live with my husband and 2 sons in Geelong, Australia.

Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for - my whole family is in Ukraine. At the start of the war they were in Mariupol and now are trying to escape from the region. My family currently on the ground in Ukraine are - my dad, brother, his fiancé and her parents, her daughter and her husband, my step dad, my cousin and his wife, my aunt as well as all my schoolmates and their families.

I have invited my mom to come and visit us in Australia and she arrived on the 9th Feb, 2 weeks before the war started. My mom Liudmyla has lost her home and all her possessions.

How the funds will be used (please be specific as possible) - my family members left everything behind. Their houses have been destroyed during shelling. The funds will be used to help them buy fuel to keep driving, pay for their accommodation on the way, food, clothes, medicine (especially for my dad who is a cancer survivor and needs ongoing treatment) and restoring lost documents. When they made it to safely - I will be arranging their evacuation to Australia. Money from this campaign will be used to buy plane tickets and pay for visas. Estimated cost of this $8000USD.

How you plan to send the funds to the parties you're raising funds for or use the funds on their behalf - Due to the GoFundMe limitations regarding who can receive the funds, I am the only person who can withdraw funds as I meet all GoFundMe criteria. Once I have access to the funds, money will be transferred to my mothers account, either here in Australia or directly to her account in Ukraine, from which she will be able to distribute funds to my brother, dad, step dad and their families and pay for anything they including accommodation, flights, food etc.